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Welcome Speech to Diabetes Book Launch in Lima, 4th of December 2014.
Estimado Doctor Séclen
Estimado Gerente de Desarrollo de Negocios Sr. Edwin Castro
Estimadas representantes del Congreso
Estimados representantes de los pacientes con diabetes
Estimados doctores y expertos
Estimados representantes de los ministerios y autoridades
Señores y señoras,
Muchísimas gracias por la invitación para este evento sobre la presentación del libro
“Diabetes, la pandemia del siglo XXI” organizado por la empresa Danesa Novo Nordisk con
el auspicio de la Real Embajada de Dinamarca.
Empecé mi trabajo como embajador el primero de agosto este ano. He aprendido algo del
español, pero todavía no suficiente para hacer todo el discurso sobre un tema tan importante
que la Diabetes en español. Voy a cambiar al inglés.
***
I consider the theme of diabetes very important.
Today more than 380 million people in the world suffer from diabetes. In 2035 the number will
be almost 600 million. The situation is what I call “An Emergency in Slow Motion.”
La situación es lo que se puede llamar “una emergencia en cámara lenta.”
I say “emergency in slow motion” because the situation is very severe. However societies can
tend to ignore to discuss the problem of Diabetes. Diabetes does not attract attention like an
Ebola crisis, but it should. I am not saying this because I find the attention about Ebola
exaggerated. Not at all. Ebola must have all possible attention.
I am saying it because there is a risk that societies tend to underestimate diabetes. But this is
not fair to the patients and their relatives. Prevention, information and treatment of Diabetes
need more attention - For the sake of the patients - But also for the sake of society! Diabetes is
very, very costly for society if you ignore the situation for too long.
Exactly because of this, I consider tonight’s event very important. With the book about
diabetes and with the launch today Dr Séclen and Novo Nordisk are contributing to increase
the focus on diabetes, which Dr Séclen calls the pandemic of the 21st century.
But regardless of even the highest possible quality of a book and a launch event, we need
much more. If we as society shall be successful in coping with Diabetes it takes attention and
long term engagement from all stakeholders.
***
I sincerely hope that tonight’s event will become a stepping stone for Peru in dealing with
diabetes in the future. But I also realise that it will take a lot from all of us - politicians,
ministries, authorities, patients, doctors, experts, private companies, media, ambassadors.
We all have a responsibility to discuss a disease as important for societies as Diabetes. On this
background it is so good to see that we have so many different stakeholders here today. I know
that all of us present here today are engaged in the Diabetes agenda from different angles and
we have different means to influence the development. But ultimately we all have the same
goal: To change diabetes in a positive direction.
This is why the embassy of Denmark has engaged in the seminar today - to engage in this
important agenda. This is why I talk about an emergency in slow motion. 380 million people
around the world suffer from diabetes. As you can read in the book of Doctor Séclen the
situation in Peru is severe.
It is my aim with tonight’s seminar to start building up stronger networks between all of us in
the area of Diabetes which can benefit especially the patients but also society in the future.
***
As mentioned Novo Nordisk is a Danish Company. Novo Nordisk has more than 90 years of
experience in diabetes.
Novo Nordisk is a supplier of innovative medicines. But Novo Nordisk is much more than
that. Novo Nordisk is also a company integrating environmental and social dimensions in its’
business model. The ultimate goal for Novo Nordisk is to change diabetes for Peruvian people
living with diabetes and to do this in cooperation with partners in the Peruvian society. I hope
that we can start this process together today.
***
Please let me end on some general remarks on my agenda as ambassador to Peru. When I look
at Peru I see to things. I see opportunities and I see strong development! In those very days
Peru is hosting the most important global conference on climate change, COP20. I have a lot
of respect for Peru for taking on the responsibility to host the COP.
The Peruvian Presidency has the full support of Denmark. Only 5 years ago Denmark hosted
the COP15, so we know better than anyone how incredibly much it takes to do what you are
doing right now.
During the last years, Peru has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The
middle class is getting bigger every day. The Peruvians and the Peruvian society start to
request new standards of living, amongst others in the health area.
As Danish ambassador to Peru I want to support the strong development. I want Danish
companies and authorities to engage and invest more in Peru. 6 weeks ago we had a Danish
Trade delegation here in Peru.
Next week we are doing a new business event here. Much more will come in the future. I
believe that Peru and Denmark can do great things together, within the area of Diabetes,
within health care more generally and within a lot of other areas.
Thanks for your attention.