ANALYSIS

Shared concerns between partners involved?

This year’s motto of World Diabetes Day is: “Diabetes – Protect our future” with a special focus on children and young people. Earlier this year, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) created a partnership with Nestlé, which many see as being bad for public health, IDF’s mission and its credibility. The food industry is an important part of the solution to reverse the global epidemic of overweight and obesity, diabetes and all related diseases. But is this partnership the way forward?

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The Maasai of East Africa: an enigma of modern medicine?
By Dirk Lund Christensen, University of Copenhagen

As non-communicable diseases like heart disease and diabetes are spreading worldwide, we have learnt that we should limit the amount of animal fats, including dairy products, if we want to live a healthy life. Research shows that these maturated fatty acids are a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. However, these diseases have not affected the Maasai people in East Africa, whose diet would be every Western hearth doctor’s nightmare. This unsolved mystery should be followed-up.

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By Karoline Kragelund Nielsen, University of Copenhagen and Anil Kapur, World Diabetes Foundation

NCDs are the leading causes of death in women. Diabetes accounts for an estimated 2.1 million deaths in women per year. A recent report from the National Health Service in UK indicated that women in age group 15 to 34 with diabetes were nine times more likely to die than women without diabetes in the same age group. Diabetes also plays an increasing role in maternal health. We cannot ignore this growing health issue.

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Evidence doesn’t solve problems – people do. 

Evidence is just a tool to convince other people that you are right and has nothing to do with innovation, originality or giant scientific steps. A new computer software is currently being developed that can produce Cochrane reviews automatically – there is evidence for you!

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The case of Mozambique
By Kirsten Havemann, Alice Agnete Zalaf Bjørnlund- Larsen and Kristine Dandanell Garn

Chronic malnutrition, measured by low height for age in children younger than five years, is caused by a mix of factors. Only one of these factors is the access to and consumption of nutritious food. Other factors include health, hygiene, education, and social/cultural practices. These factors can be classified into three areas: Food, Care and Access to Services.

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Using TB drugs in politics is dangerous and unethical. Delay in drugs causes death and disability, further spreading of illness and development of drug-resistant TB. Donors should not take patients as hostages.

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Making family planning services available to all is one of the most effective pathways to improved women’s and children’s health. Access to safe abortion to all will reduce maternal mortality by 1/3. In addition, availability of family planning and abortion would have a significant environmental benefit. Why is it then not being addressed?

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