Diabetes in Asia Study Group (DASG)

Diabetes in Asia Study Group (DASG) was formed on 2^nd December 2006 during the 19^th International Diabetes Federation Conference (IDF) in Cape Town, South Africa. Prof Samad Shera was unanimously elected as the Founding President. DASG is a continuation of the Diabetes in Asia Conferences, a movement which was started in 1999. The first Diabetes in Asia Conference was held in Karachi in the same year.

The objectives of DASG are:

A)    Holding periodic meetings and conferences.

B)     Conducting studies to characterize the state of diabetes within the Asia Region.

C)    Promoting the publications of activities and guidelines.

D)    Active involvement of government and non governmental organisations.

E)     Seeking active collaboration with national and international groups such as International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization (WHO).

F)     Encouraging the development of human resources to increase our capacity to fight diabetes in Asia.

The first DASG Conference which is also the 7^th Diabetes in Asia Conference, was held in Kathmandu – Nepal on 16-18 October 2008. The theme of the Conference was ‘Implementation of Primary Prevention Strategies for Type 2 Diabetes.’

About five hundred delegates from twenty five countries representing six out of seven IDF regions (South East Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Western Pacific, North America, Africa, and Europe) participated in this conference. Forty three invited speakers from the Asian continent and outside presented and discussed their research work during the conference.

 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) was represented by IDF President Prof Martin Silink, IDF President – Elect Prof J C Mbanya, IDF Vice President and Chairman Diabetes UK Sir Michael Hirst.

Chairpersons of IDF South East Asia and MENA Regions, Dr Mahen Wijesuriya and Prof Morsi Arab also attended the Conference.  Western Pacific Region was represented by Prof Naoko Tajima from Japan. Prof Rhys Williams - Professor and Dean University of Swansea – Wales lead the delegates from Europe. The representatives from the National Diabetes Associations were also present.

The academic exchange of experiences with the experts provided the impetus to increase research efforts at all levels – clinical laboratory and operational. Such deliberations will pave the way for increasing cooperation among the developing and developed countries aimed at improving and strengthening the diabetes health care.

On the last day of the conference, 18^th October 2008, elections of the DASG Officers and Executive Board Members were held. Following Officers and members  were elected for the term 2008-2010.

Officers

Prof  Samad Shera                (Pakistan)      President                 

Dr Mahen Wijesuriya          (Sri Lanka)     Vice President         

Dr Arun Baksi                       (India/UK)   Secretary General                 

Dr Abdullah O Al Hamaq  (Qatar)            Treasurer

Executive Board Members

Prof  Hajera Mahtab (Bangladesh),   Prof Akhtar Hussain (Bangladesh/Norway),

Prof Zumin Shi (China), Prof Adel Al Aziz El Sayed (Egypt), Dr Aly El-Sherif (Egypt),   Prof   Morsi  Arab (Egypt),      Dr V Mohan (India),    Dr Shashank Rameshchandrta Joshi (India),   Prof    Sidartawan    Soegonda     (Indonesia),  Prof    Madhur   Bhattarai (Nepal),  Prof Samad Shera (Pakistan), Prof A Basit (Pakistan), Dr Abdullah Al Hamaq (Qatar) Ms. Sharoud Mathis (Qatar),

Dr Mahen Wijesuriya (Sri Lanka) and Dr Arun Baksi (UK)

The second Diabetes in Asia Study Group Conference in association with Qatar Diabetes Association & Qatar Foundation will be held on 26-27 March 2010 at Sheraton hotel, Doha- Qatar.

Lt. to Rt. Sir Michael Hirst-Vice President IDF & Chairman Diabetes UK, Prof Naoko Tajima-IDF WP Region representative, Prof Morsi Arab-Chairman IDF MENA Region, Prof JC Mbanya-IDF President-Elect, Dr Dr D L Singh

President of Nepal is being escorted by Prof Samad Shera and Dr. D. L. Singh to the Conference Hall

Prof Jean Claude Mbanya, Prof Samad Shera, Prof Martin Silink & Prof Rhys Williams Chairing the Session on Kathmandu Declaration

Prof Martin Silink presenting United Nations Resolution 2006 to Prof Samad Shera.