Feb. 26, 2009 — The Virgin Islands Government has entered into a three-year agreement with Novo Nordisk, a Denmark-based pharmaceutical company and global leader in diabetes research and care, to promote diabetes awareness and prevention in the Virgin Islands.
The agreement includes a $300,000 grant from Novo Nordisk to the Territory.
“The effects of diabetes on our community cannot be overstated as it is the fourth largest cause of death here in the Virgin Islands and I welcome and applaud the involvement of Novo Nordisk as we continue to fight this disease,” Gov. John deJongh Jr. said in a Government House statement Thursday.
DeJongh formalized the partnership earlier this year and has had follow up meetings with Novo Nordisk and Danish government officials during his recent visits to Washington D.C.
In the three years of the agreement, Novo Nordisk will provide funding for the Department of Health’s Diabetes Education Empowerment Program (DEEP).
DEEP is a nationally recognized, community-based diabetes education program that promotes public awareness and provides education and support in battling diabetes. The Novo Nordisk grant will fund the implementation of public education programs for both people with diabetes as well as those at risk for the disease.
Novo Nordisk will also fund small focused research on factors that influence diabetes management; innovative interventions, which improve diabetes management, as well as strategies to identify those with insulin resistance and pre-diabetes.
"Knowledge that can be translated into action is a necessity in our collective fight against diabetes," said Michael Mawby, chief government affairs officer for Novo Nordisk. "The governor and the leadership of the Virgin Islands share our passion and vision for defeating diabetes and together we have collectively developed an innovative and effective program that we are proud to support."
Under terms of the agreement, the government will also administer the small grant program through the Department of Health, which will include the receipt of appropriate applications for grants and the monitoring of those projects that receive Novo funding.
In the first two years of the grant, the Virgin Islands government will receive $25,000 from Novo for disease management and patient education; $60,000 for public education and $15,000 for administering the small grants program. They will get the same amounts in the final year of the grant and the disease management and patient education component will also receive $15,000.
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