World Partner Project
A fundamental issue is how the diabetes pandemic will affect developing countries’ ability to grow and develop. Developing countries face a double burden of disease. Populations suffering from existing infections and malnourishment are now being hit by the growing problem of diabetes and other chronic diseases putting even more pressure on access to health and exacerbating poverty. In the developing world, children die from diabetes.
The purpose of the World Partner Project (WPP) is to establish a foundation on which developing countries can build their own healthcare strategies and ultimately improve access to proper care. WPP always works with local partners, usually health ministries and/or patient organisations. It is funded by a grant from Novo Nordisk.
Launched in 2001, WPP and its partners have driven 31 projects in eight focus countries (Bangladesh, Malaysia, Tanzania, Zambia, El Salvador, Costa Rica, China and India), organising clinics, and providing distance learning for healthcare professionals, educating people with diabetes and raising diabetes awareness. The focus for all projects is sustainability: they must be affordable and practical enough for long-term operation.
Performance 2007
As of 2007, it is estimated that WPP projects have resulted in the training of 104,000 healthcare professionals, while 122,000 people with diabetes have been trained or treated.
Going forward, WPP will continue to facilitate established projects in the focus countries until it is satisfied that these projects can be self-sustaining. During 2007, Novo Nordisk assisted national diabetes organisations in the focus countries to consolidate efforts in order to continue the projects. Funding has been reserved for projects to be launched in 2008 in three new countries: Nigeria, Mexico and Indonesia.
This page has been reviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of its assurance of Novo Nordisk’s non-financial reporting. Please refer to Audit and assurance for a full description of the conclusions and the nature of assurance offered.
