The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) marked World Diabetes Day on 14 November with a multidisciplinary conference in Amman, Jordan, where diabetes prevalence stands at more than 13% according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) figures.
The 2-day conference at the King Hussein Medical Center was opened by Princess Muna al-Hussein of Jordan, WHO patron for nursing and midwifery in the eastern Mediterranean region, and was the fourth major collaboration between the RCP and Jordan's Royal Medical Services (RMS).
Following opening remarks from Jordan's minister of health, Dr Mahmoud Al-Sheyyab, the RCP team joined colleagues from the RMS, Jordan's National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics, and the Jordanian Society for the Care of Diabetes, to deliver a comprehensive programme including sessions on guidelines for retinal screening, diabetes specialist nursing in the UK and diabetes self-management.
The RMS department of internal medicine also organised a public awareness event on the sidelines of the conference, with free access to BMI checks, blood glucose testing and dietary and exercise advice.
Speaking at the event, RCP international medical director Professor Ali Jawad said:
The conference provided an excellent opportunity for us to learn from one another. The importance of events like this, which remind the health workforce of the rapidly increasing prevalence of diabetes and the importance of prevention, can't be overestimated.
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