Today will mark World Diabetes Day. The aim of the global campaign is to increase awareness that Diabetes is on course to becoming the world’s biggest public health problem. According to the World Health Organisation and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), diabetes is an epidemic killing about 5.1 million each year; that is one person every 6 seconds. The latest estimates from IDF indicate that the Western Pacific including Papua New Guinea has 138 million diabetes sufferers, which is the highest number of people with diabetes in the world. In Papua New Guinea of over 59,000 people that have the condition, only about 15 percent are aware of it. These facts and figures have motivated Cricket PNG with NCDC Health, PNG Diabetes Association, and support from the Australian High Commission join the campaign against diabetes. Today a Free Diabetes Camp providing free blood sugar testing, blood pressure (BP) and Body Mass Index (BMI) checks was hosted at the Amini Cricket Ground. Following the health checks, Cricket PNG Development Officers conducted basic cricket drills including batting, bowling and fielding for participants before a friendly match was played. The Australian government supports Cricket PNG through the Pacific Sports Partnership (PSP) for their Kriket Bilong Olgeta program which is aimed at health and well-being, fostering self-esteem and empowerment, facilitating social inclusion and integration, challenging gender norms and providing opportunities for leadership and achievement.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 05:22:15 +0000
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