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Español60 Seconds with...Dr Petra Wilson, IDF
Each month we will be interviewing an IAPO member in six short questions. They will be featured in our newsletter and the website.
Our featured member of the month is Dr Petra Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of International Diabetes Federation. Petra answered a few questions for us.
1. Describe your role at IDF in a sentence:My role is to integrate IDF’s expertise in all its areas of work (education, epidemiology and prevention, communication and advocacy) into a common strategy that defends the interests of the growing number of people with diabetes and those at risk.
2. I do what I do because…
I believe I have a role to play in achieving IDF’s objectives: improving health outcomes for people with diabetes, preventing the development of type two diabetes and stopping discrimination against people with diabetes.
3. Why does IDF exist?
In 2013 there were 382 million people with diabetes worldwide and many more at risk. IDF leads the global diabetes community and is engaged in action to tackle diabetes from the local to the global level – from programmes at community level to worldwide awareness and advocacy initiatives.
4. What is your biggest achievement as an organisation in the past year?
IDF’s World Diabetes Congress took place in December 2013 and was attended by more than 10,000 delegates from over 100 nations – the largest medical congress ever held in Australia to date!
5. What does patient-centred healthcare look like to you?
Patients should be empowered to make their own decisions regarding their healthcare and that is why IDF defends their right to information and education about diabetes. Patients are a priority for IDF - more than half of our 230 Member Associations are patients’ organisations.
6. What do you think is the key benefit of being involved with IAPO and a global alliance for patients?
Citizen involvement and monitoring have proven to be important means of mobilising governments and keeping them accountable for their commitments. IAPO allows its members to join their efforts into an even more powerful voice.
Find out more about the IDF here.
