Dr. Alieu Gaye Elected Vice-President Of IDF

At the recently concluded 20th Edition of Diabetes Congress held in Montreal, Canada the birthplace of Dr. Frederic Banting and his partner Charles Best, who jointly discovered Insulin, the President of Gambia Diabetes Association and outgoing Chair African Region for International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Dr. Alieu Gaye, was elected the Vice-President of the IDF, together with eleven others to serve an initial three-year term (renewable).

The congress brought together over 15,000 participants, including gurus (experts) in diabetes and supporting companies and organisations like ACCU-CHECK and World Diabetes Federation that join forces with the IDF in the fight against diabetes.

Part of the activities at the congress includes amendments to the constitution, handing over of the presidency from Martin Silink, Australia to Pro. Jean Claude Mbanya, Cameroon and other positions such as Chair, African Region (IDF) from Dr. Alieu Gaye of The Gambia to Dr. Silver Bahendeka, Uganda, talks, lectures, symposia, covering a wide range of topics such as the need for new therapies in type 2 diabetes, a portrait of SGLT transporters and inhibitors, among others.

The congress also was a display of materials such as posters, photos and food items reflecting efforts being made by individual participating countries in the fight against diabetes.

The Gambia was admired, commended and congratulated for its German-Gambia type I diabetes project.

As of now the project provides treatment and care for 40 type I diabetes patients at no cost, takes care of their schooling and even empower parents of these type 1 diabetes patients by providing them with sewing machines and other income-generating means.

In his closing remarks, the incumbent President Professor Jean Claude Mbanya urged governments in the world to consider placing high priority in their budget allocations to non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, noting that if the current trend should continue unabated more people will die of diabetes than HIV/AIDs by 2015.

The Gambian team comprised Dr. Alieu Gaye, Ousman Gawlo Nyang, and

Salieu Ebun John supported by Dr. Betina Bunn, Elli Morville and Roland Schindler, German Partners.

Trophies were awarded to Insulin for life, Lions Club International and Professor Mosi Arab for their immense contributions in the fight against diabetes.

The story is filed by Salieu Ebun John, Assistant Secretary-General of the Gambia Diabetes Association.