A three-day international conference on diabetes, obesity and related diseases kicked off last Monday at the InterContinental Resort Mauritius in Balaclava. The conference is organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in collaboration with the Diabetes Foundation of Mauritius and the World Community for Prevention of Diabetes Foundation in Spain.
The President of the Republic of Mauritius, Prithvirajsing Roopun; the Minister of Health and Welfare, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal; and other personalities were also present at the opening ceremony.
In his speech, President Roopun emphasized that the Conference serves as a platform for sharing ideas, advancing knowledge and working collectively to improve understanding and treatment of diabetes. He pointed out that diabetes is one of the leading causes of premature death, affecting every continent of the world. He went on to note that diabetes is the second leading cause of death in Mauritius, and acknowledged that significant progress had been made over the years in the treatment of diabetes. The President of the Republic also assured that the government is committed to the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs). He then praised the Ministry of Health and Welfare for its collaboration with the Mauritian diaspora to contribute to the fight against NCDs.
For his part, Minister Jagutpal pointed out that the Conference brings together renowned experts in the fight against NCDs, particularly in the fields of diabetology, obesity and associated diseases. He observed that, in recent years, obesity and diabetes have emerged as formidable challenges, not only in our nation but also on a global scale.
Dr Jagutpal indicated that the fight against NCDs remains a priority for the Government of Mauritius. In this regard, the Health Minister recalled that the Prime Minister’s Office has been developing a National Sport and Physical Activity Policy since 2018 to promote a culture of community sport and physical activity in the country.
In addition, the Minister of Health pointed out that the National Service Framework for NCDs 2023-2028 and the National Integrated Action Plan for NCDs have already been launched. He also mentioned several projects underway in the fight against NCDs and diabetes. These include: a National Adolescent Health Strategy (2023-2028); a National Nutrition Action Plan being developed based on the results of the Mauritius Nutrition Survey 2022; the introduction of nutrition labelling on food packaging by the Mauritius Food Standards Agency; and a salt consumption survey.
The Conference aims to bring together renowned experts on diabetes, fostering discussions on current issues related to the disease. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the latest evidence-based best practices in addressing diabetes, and to collaborate in formulating practical measures for its management.
