Tackling diabetes: how nurses can make the difference.

This year, World Diabetes Day on 14 November coincides with the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, and therefore focuses on highlighting the role of nurses in the prevention and management of diabetes.Diabetes is recognized as an important cause of premature death and disability globally and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, where its prevalence has been steadily increasing since 1990. Although the annual decline of the risk of dying from a major noncommunicable disease between the ages of 30 and 70 years is slowing globally, diabetes is showing a 5% increase in attributed premature mortality. In 2016, diabetes was the direct cause of 1.6 million deaths globally and 43% of all deaths before the age of 70 years occur due to high blood glucose. Overweight and obesity are the strongest risk factors for type 2 diabetes. In addition, diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke and is a leading cause of blindness, lower limb amputation and kidney failure. A study conducted in 35 countries indicated that people living with diabetes are more likely to experience catastrophic health expenditures with an estimated increase of 4% between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals, regardless of their insurance status.

2020 - the year of the nurse and midwife: a call for action to scale up and strengthen the nursing and midwifery workforce in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. World Health Day on 7 April is dedicated to supporting nurses and midwives and highlights the central role of these professions in advancing universal health coverage, achieving health-related sustainable development goals, and the Eastern Mediterranean Region Vision 2023: Health for All by All.This year, we sadly mark World Health Day in the face of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought to attention more than ever the crucial and invaluable role of health workers, who are working tirelessly day and night to care for patients and save lives. In fighting COVID-19, not only might they become infected and put their own lives at risk, but they also face distress and burnout because of long working hours. In addition, many health workers have to be away from their homes for prolonged periods, for fear of putting their own families at risk of acquiring the infection. Even before the pandemic, the safety and security of health workers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region has been a significant concern, as more than half of the countries of the Region face acute and protracted crises, and 70- 80% of total recorded attacks on health facilities globally occur in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.