Best wishes

THE UNIVERSITY of Technology (UTech), Jamaica is honoured to be continuing our long-term partnership with The University of the West Indies and the Diabetes Association of Jamaica in the staging of this 25th renewal of the annual International Diabetes Conference. It is of particular significance that this year’s conference is being held during UTech, Jamaica’s 60th diamond anniversary year and in University’s Diabetes Outreach Programme’s (UDOP) silver anniversary year.

The longevity and success of the UDOP Conference, the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, point to its tremendous reach and impact in enhancing research and public awareness on new developments in diabetes and its related conditions, which essentially affect every organ in the body and every area of human health and well-being.

The current statistics, indicating that diabetes and its complications are the leading cause of death in Jamaica and

the Caribbean and that 10-18 per cent of Caribbean persons have diabetes, demand our collective attention in the treatment of the disease and in mitigating its onset, particularly in children and adolescents.

This year’s conference theme, ‘Diabetes and the Heart’, is a timely consideration in focusing attention on new knowledge and strategies for the prevention, treatment and management of this pervasive disease.

UTech, Jamaica is pleased to be among the tertiary intuitions adding to the stock of established and new knowledge in the research and management of diabetes mellitus. We look forward to continued association with UDOP on its education and outreach mission.

I extend hearty congratulations to UDOP on their silver anniversary milestone and my best wishes for an informative and successful conference. STEPHEN VASCIANNIE, CD

President, University of Technology