[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 54 (Monday, April 11, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMMEMORATING WORLD HEALTH DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 11, 2016

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
commemorate World Health Day.
  World Health Day is celebrated every year on the founding day of the 
World Health Organization (``WHO''), which was established in 1950.
  WHO puts together regional, local, and international events to shed 
light on a specific world health issue.
  Under the leadership of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 
this year the WHO is focusing efforts and attention to combat the rise 
in diabetes and improve the lives of those living with this preventable 
and treatable disease.
  Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not 
produce enough insulin or when the body is unable to utilize the 
insulin produced.
  We need to focus on increasing preventative healthcare policies in 
America by providing the public and healthcare providers with 
innovative prevention strategies.
  Diabetes can be controlled by increasing access to the following: 
diagnosis, self-management education, and affordable treatment.
  In 2008, approximately 347 million people in the world had diabetes.
  The number of cases have grown exponentially over the years.
  Eighty percent of approximately 1.5 million deaths, attributed to 
this disease, occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
  By 2030, the World Health Organization projects that diabetes will be 
the 7th leading cause of death.
  We need to acknowledge this as an epidemic and increase awareness 
towards the staggering burdens/consequences associated with diabetes.
  I support this World Health Day's 2016 goal to scale up prevention, 
strengthen care, and enhance surveillance through the launch of the 
first Global report on diabetes.

                          ____________________