The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh and United Nations have been jointly awarded Charles H. Best Medal, 2007 for their distinguished service in the cause of diabetes.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Ismat Jahan received the award on behalf of Bangladesh at a ceremonial event of the American Diabetes Association in St Louis, Missouri Saturday.

The award is named after Charles H. Best, the co-discoverer of insulin. The award honours distinguished services in the field of diabetes, including both scientific and nonscientific endeavors, according to a message received from Permanent Mission of Bangladesh of the UN.

President of American Diabetes Association John Buse, in his award citation, said, "on behalf of the American Diabetes Association, we are honoured to present this prestigious award to the Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh and the United Nations for their efforts to make every citizen of the world aware about diabetes". "The adoption of the World Diabetes Day Resolution would not have been possible without their involvement", he stated. Accepting the award Ambassador Ismat Jahan thanked the American Diabetes Association for honouring Bangladesh with this award. She said, "diabetes being a silent killer, Bangladesh's aim is to raise global awareness and that we believe can best be done through a UN resolution".

She noted that diabetes was rising faster in developing countries like Bangladesh, which can ill afford to cope with the disease on its own.

Ambassador Jahan said that Bangladesh's comprehensive diabetic health care delivery was well recognized. The Bangladesh PRSP and the Health, Nutrition, Population Sector Programme (HNPSP) had identified diabetes mellitus as one of the major public health problems, she added.

She also recalled that the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (DAB) along with and its affiliates played strong role of advocacy and awareness raising in Bangladesh.

Ismat Jahan underscored that the severity of the threat that diabetes posed on the world economy, required a coordinated international action.

Bangladesh took the lead in sponsoring a UN resolution on World Diabetes Day. The resolution was adopted in the UN General Assembly by consensus on December 20, 2006.