World Diabetes Day 2005 launched in the Australian Parliament

Novo Nordisk var hovedsponsoren bag lanceringen af Diabetes Australiens Verdensdiabetesdag i Canberra. På et møde i Canberras parlamentsbygning den 10. november præsenterede Novo Nordisk og Diabetes Australia temaet for Verdensdiabetesdagen ”Hop med fødderne først ind i Verdensdiabetesdagen”

World Diabetes Day 2005 launched in the Australian Parliament:
Novo Nordisk was the major sponsor of Diabetes Australia’s World Diabetes Day launch in Canberra. At a meeting in Parliament House Canberra, on Thursday November 10th, Diabetes Australia and Novo Nordisk presented the theme for World Diabetes Day “Jump feet first into World Diabetes Day".
The guest of honour was the Minister of Health, The Hon. Tony Abbott, members of parliament and guests attended this meeting. Key note speakers Prof Martin Silink, president of International Diabetes Federation and Dr Deed, President DA Queensland presented the current state of diabetes in Australia.
As the major sponsor to Diabetes Australia and WDD, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Australia David Albachten presented the company and its support for World Diabetes Day. David spoke about Novo Nordisk’s commitments and in particular the TakeAction! School Challenge. The response to David's speech was extremely positive, in particular, for our School Challenge activities.

The Australasian School Challenge
A number of our Diabetes Care Specialists (Sales) and Novo Nordisk employees embarked in this School Challenge. They “recruited” some of their customers, mainly Diabetes Educators and Dieticians, who helped facilitate interactive information sessions about healthy eating and exercise. The kids were then involved in a number of interactive learning activities. The questions were flying, and competition was at its peak. The children, their Teachers and the Principals seemed to have enjoyed themselves while learning.
We visited 12 schools across Australia and New Zealand, reaching out to between 30 and 200 kids per school. A total of 880 children were involved in the School Challenge in Australasia.

A WDD Game Tool Box for each School:
Thanks to the School Challenge Team in Denmark and the School Challenge website, we were able to produce a ‘World Diabetes Day - Game Tool Box’ (including the Dominoes, Global Food Quest, Health Quiz and the Body Fact games) which was used on the day to facilitate the interactive sessions.
The children left with a Novo Nordisk “show bag” which included some lunch box healthy tips, a WDD awareness armband, a Novo Nordisk mini flyer, and some Taurus temporary tattoos.
The schools received an educational video and DVD for teachers and parents about type 1 diabetes in Primary School, as well as a dedicated biography of Steven Renouf, a famous Australian Rugby League player who developed type 1 diabetes while at his peak of his rugby career.

WDD continues… 2006 Healthy Eating and Exercise Competition:
The schools involved in this year WDD – School Challenge will be take part in a Novo Nordisk Healthy Eating and Exercise competition in 2006. The three selected (winning) schools will receive a Novo Nordisk grant to go toward the purchase of sports equipment for their School.

The team at Novo Nordisk Australasia would like to thank you all for your support in preparing for World Diabetes Day - School Challenge 2005.