Digicel partners with the World Health Organisation to Raise Awareness   

Friday 13^th November 2009, Vanuatu – Digicel, Vanuatu’s fastest growing mobile operator, has today announced that it has secured a five-year sponsorship agreement of World Diabetes Day in Vanuatu, which will see the agreement continue until 2013.

The announcement was made today at the Mele playground in Port Vila, where over 100 school children gathered to promote a healthy lifestyle to mark World Diabetes Day which takes place tomorrow November 14^th.

Digicel Vanuatu CFO Garry Patterson said, “Diabetes effects a growing number of Nivans and Digicel is proud to be sponsoring World Diabetes Day in raising awareness of the disease.”

“Diabetes education and prevention is a key factor in reducing the number of sufferers. Digicel’s partnership with the Vanuatu Public Health Department will go towards supporting their work in these areas,” he said.

In attendance at the announcement event were Len Tarivonda, Director of the Vanuatu Public Health Department and members of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

ABOUT WORLD DIABETES DAY

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated every year on November 14. The World Diabetes Day campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its member associations. It engages millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness. World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes now poses. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007 with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225. The campaign draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight. This year sees the first of a five-year campaign that will address the growing need for diabetes education and prevention programmes.