World Heart Federation

HIGHLIGHTS

Dr Yadeta – Cardiologist and Professor in Ethiopia – announced as winner of the rheumatic heart disease survey prize draw

Dr Dejuma Yadeta, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at Addis Ababa University, sees about 30 patients a week with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). He was one of 43 respondents to a computerized survey on RHD piloted at the World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) and was announced as the randomly-selected winner of a free registration to the next WCC, taking place in Dubai from 18–21 April 2012.

A Champion for non-communicable diseases: an interview with Sir George Alleyne

The NCD Alliance, of which the World Heart Federation is a founding member, had the pleasure of speaking with Sir George Alleyne shortly after the United Nations DPI/NGO conference, Advance Global Health: Achieve the MDGs, in Melbourne this past 30 August–1 September. Sir George highlighted the central role of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for global health and development as a keynote speaker in the closing ceremonies. In this interview he provides his impressions of the conference, progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and his hopes for the UN summit on NCDs.

IN THIS ISSUE

NCD Alliance launches plan for UN Summit

In less than one year’s time, a momentous opportunity will present itself to put non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on the global health and development agenda. The United Nations (UN) High-Level Summit on NCDs in September 2011 is a global platform from which the world can be moved from rhetoric to action.

A toolkit for developing children’s programmes

In July, the World Heart Federation brought members and partners together to share experiences from their activities promoting a healthy diet and physical activity, through a two-day workshop held at the Geneva Headquarters. Working with the Indian NGO HRIDAY (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth) and Community Interventions for Health (CIH), World Heart Federation members from India, Ireland, Finland, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, South Africa and the UK participated.

A Heart Hero

The Olavarría Tobacco Free City programme won the 2010 Louise Lown Heart Hero Award. The programme, which was carried out in a small city in Argentina, combined a print, television and radio campaign with the implementation of smoking bans in all bars and restaurants, tobacco-related training of teachers, health workers and students, and the establishment of tobacco health centres. In the 4 years since the programme started in Olavarría the overall adult smoking prevalence decreased by 18%, and cardiovascular-disease related in-patient hospital visits were reduced by 30%.

World Congress of Cardiology 2012: Join us in Dubai 18–21 April

Join us at the next World Congress of Cardiology Scientific Sessions, taking place 18–21 April 2012 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Check our website for all the latest updates: www.worldcardiocongress.org
   

RHDAustralia – National Coordination Unit for Rheumatic Heart Disease

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia are up to eight times more likely than non-Indigenous Australians to be hospitalized for acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD), and 20 times as likely to die from RHD.  This is due to ongoing poverty, overcrowding and the remote location of many people who are at risk. Find out more about the RHD control programmes that have been established in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.

When policy is the best medicine: smoke-free policy and heart health

Smokefree policy is one of the most cost-effective measures for improving heart health and is crucial to stemming the CVD epidemic in low- and middle-income countries. Gathering many of the world’s top experts in tobacco control, the World Heart Federation drove this message home at the 2010 World Congress of Cardiology in Beijing. The Global Smokefree Partnership project titled Warning: Secondhand Smoke is Hazardous to Your Heart, produced materials that served as the cornerstone of a comprehensive strategy to communicate the effects of secondhand smoke on heart health.

IUHPE builds bridges between health and sustainable development

Health Promotion: Health, Equity and Sustainable Development was the theme of the 20th International Union of Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) World Conference, held in Geneva on 11–15 July, 2010. Focusing on health and sustainable development, the conference was designed to showcase best practice and initiate alliances and partnerships. 

Highlights from the European Society of Cardiology Congress

The European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC) was recently held in Stockholm, Sweden from 28 August to 1 September. In this article find out about the clinical trials presented, read highlights from the congress news and meet the new ESC President.

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UPCOMING EVENTS 2010

21-23 October -  Beirut, Lebanon

Eastern Mediterraean Congress on Cardiovascular Prevention
 

14-17 November - Chicago, USA

American Heart Association Scientific Sessions

05-07 December  -  Tel Aviv, Israel

Innovations in Cardiovascular Interventions   

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