Programme Theme

The overarching theme of the Focus on Diabetes programme is, ‘Access to Care’ in line with the World Diabetes Day theme. IAPB with the programme partners will discuss Diabetes and Eye Health considering three core areas: Elevate, Integrate, and Activate as outlined below.

1. Elevate: DR & Sustainable Development Goals

Low- and middle-income countries account for approximately 80% of the global diabetes burden yet many are ill equipped to properly identify, treat, and manage the complex and varied consequences of this disease. Untreated diabetes and the associated vision loss can result in economic, social, and developmental impediments to the wellbeing of individuals and societies.

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted the ‘Vision for Everyone; accelerating action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals‘ Resolution. The resolution is the first agreement on eye health and vision to be adopted by the United Nations and enshrines eye health as part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Focus on Diabetes will explore some of the social, economic and development issues associated with Diabetes, DR, and vision loss due to DR.

2. Integrate: DR services in health systems

The World Health Organization (WHO) has made strengthening integrated people-centred eye care integral to its plan to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). Integrated People-centred Eye Care (IPEC) refers to “The management and delivery of health services so that clients receive a continuum of preventive and curative services, according to their needs over time and across different levels of the health system”

Packages of care and global targets and indicators are core to the WHO work to facilitate the delivery of IPEC at country level. Indicators for DR as part of a global framework for eye health indicators are being worked on, with an initial set having been published in 2020. Focus on Diabetes will showcase, discuss and debate approaches and strategies to create an integrated diabetes and eye health ecosystem.

3. Activate: Patient empowerment

Health strategies for the detection and treatment of DR need to be set up in a way that starts from the perspective and the needs of a person diagnosed with diabetes. Approaches to reduce known barriers to access, such as costs and distances to services, as well as ensuring that information, education, and services are provided in a culturally acceptable and context appropriate manner and language for all people should be prioritized.

Focus on Diabetes will explore success stories, models of care, priorities, and challenges to achieve people centred approach to diabetes.

Note: Owing to regulations and UK compliance, we regret to inform you that we are unable to share Focus on Diabetes content with our UK-based audience.

1. Elevate: DR & Sustainable Development Goals

2. Integrate: DR services in health systems

3. Activate: Patient empowerment

Supported by:

Key partners:

Related pages

DR Barometer

Diabetic Retinopathy Work Group

Work Groups

Diabetic Retinopathy

Global eye health targets 2030

Vision Atlas Evidence Series: Causes of Vision Loss

Magnitude and Projections

Our Group A Members

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