Lighting up Guildhall to mark World Diabetes Day

Swansea’s Guildhall was lit up in blue on the weekend to mark World Diabetes Day.

Swansea Council illuminated the building to raise awareness of the condition, which affects thousands of local people.

The lighting-up was part of a campaign called the Blue Monument Challenge that’s been on-going since 2007.

Over 1,000 monuments and buildings in over 80 countries have been lit up in blue during the last seven years, including the Christ Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro and Table Mountain in Cape Town. Some of the UK’s famous monuments and buildings to have featured include the London Eye and 10 Downing Street.

Cllr Mark Child, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Healthy City, said: “Diabetes is one of the major causes of premature illness and death worldwide.

“In the UK, 3.2 million people are diagnosed with the condition, but an estimated 630,000 people are also thought to be undiagnosed.

“Diabetes affects thousands of local people in Swansea, so lighting up Guildhall in blue was a great way of raising awareness of diabetes as a serious public health issue.”

Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East, and Geraint Davies, MP for Swansea West, both contacted Swansea Council with the request to light up Guildhall.

Mrs Harris said: “I’m delighted that Swansea Council took the opportunity to help highlight World Diabetes Day.

“Diabetes continues to affect an increasing percentage of the UK population at an alarming rate.

“Every measure taken to both raise awareness and help tackle the condition is time and effort well spent.”

Mr Davies said: “I’m really pleased that Swansea Council agreed to light up the Guildhall in Swansea. Many will know that I have presented Bill in Parliament so we can have clear labelling on food and drinks to show consumers how many teaspoons of sugar are contained, allowing them to make informed choices about their health and to cut down the rising number of diabetes cases in the UK.

“My aim is to have more information available to the public so they can make informed choices and reduce their risk of diabetes and other health-related illnesses. In Wales, 177,212 of people have diabetes, 6.9% of the population, which is notably higher than the UK average of 6.2%. These numbers are growing every day, and 10% of the NHS budget is now spent on this condition.”