During a meeting of the Parliamentary Diabetes Global Network (PDGN) held during the annual congress of the European Association of Studies in Diabetes (EASD) in Barcelona, the Hon. Claudette Buttigieg MP was appointed as the first Regional Leader for Europe of the PDGN.
The PDGN was founded in 2013 with the primary mission of enabling Parliamentarians around the world to make a positive political impact on the prevention, early detection and treatment of diabetes and its comorbidities.
As Regional Leader for Europe, the first region to be part of the network’s pilot project, Hon. Buttigieg will be tasked with engaging fellow European parliamentarians to act on diabetes whilst identifying national Parliamentarians to become diabetes champions. In her role she will constantly inspire and enable these diabetes champions to act in their national Parliaments and build support around diabetes champions through the creation of national diabetes parliamentary groups. The leadership team for Europe will also include former UK Health Minister and former MEP John Bowis and former Romanian Health Minister Senator Florian Bodag.
During the meeting during which the PDGN launched its strategic plan and vision for 2019-2021, Hon. Buttigieg gave a presentation on the impact diabetes parliamentary groups can make using the Maltese experience of the cross-party diabetes parliamentary group in Malta.
In her first comments after being appointed, Hon. Buttigieg said that she is honoured to be appointed as PDGN’s first Regional Leader for Europe. “The new PDGN strategy is ambitious but achievable. I intend to take on this opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of all those living with diabetes particularly in Europe. Together we can do this!” concluded Hon. Buttigieg.
Sir Michael Hirst, Founder and Co-Chair welcomed Hon. Buttigieg’s appointment. “I am very pleased indeed that the Hon. Buttigieg has agreed to be Regional Leader for Europe for the Global Network. Her personal experience of being a parent of a daughter with diabetes, coupled with her inspirational enthusiasm to improve the lives of those with diabetes, make her an ideal person to drive forward the Network of Parliamentary Champions in Europe. These Champions can do so much in their own countries to advance policies on care, treatment, research and prevention of diabetes, and Malta remains an excellent example of how much committed Parliamentarians can do to advance the cause of diabetes. My co-Chair Chris Delicata and I very much look forward to working with Claudette and her colleagues” concluded Sir Michael Hirst.
PHOTO (L to R)
Mr. Adrian Sanders (Secretary General, PDGN), Hon. Claudette Buttigieg MP, Sir Michael Hirst (Founder and Co-Chair, PDGN) and Mr. Chris J. Delicata (Co-Chair, PDGN)