CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND OTHER CHRONIC DISEASES VIRTUALLY ABSENT FROM CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE AGENDAThe virtual absence of cardiovascular disease and the other chronic diseases from the agenda of the Clinton Global Initiative’s annual meeting was a disappointing departure from last year’s event, where they had figured prominently. The health track of the meeting was almost entirely focused on the United Nations’ Millennium Goals, which do not mention the chronic diseases, even though they account for 60% of deaths -- 80% of which happen in low- and middle-income countries. “Naturally, we’re disappointed,” said Chief Executive Officer Janet Voûte, who represented the World Heart Federation at the meeting. “The World Heart Federation very much hopes that steps can be taken to ensure an improved agenda for next year’s meeting. Cardiovascular disease and the other chronic diseases are too prevalent to be ignored, especially in the low- and middle-income countries where they reap their biggest toll.” The meeting was held 26 to 28 September 2007 in New York. UNICEF’s Veneman announces World Heart Federation commitmentAnn Veneman, Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund, announced the World Heart Federation’s 2007 commitment to scale-up its existing initiative with Plaza Sésamo, the popular television show, to teach children in Colombia about the importance of good nutrition and physical activity to a healthy heart. “The commitment is using television as a vehicle for improving the health and well-being of young children, aged three to six,” Ms Veneman said. The partnership was launched in 2006 under the leadership of World Heart Federation Immediate Past President Valentin Fuster. It is made possible thanks to the generosity of Julio Maria and Beatrice Santo Domingo. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Colombia. The scaled-up initiative will allow the World Heart Federation to target lower-income communities in and around Bogotà with additional multi-media educational materials and enhanced training. Nishtar speaks about nutritionSania Nishtar, President and Founder of Heartfile and a former Chairman of the World Heart Federation’s Foundations Advisory Board, participated in a panel discussion entitled “Addressing Over and Under Nutrition” Cardiovascular disease featured at last year’s meetingAt last year’s meeting, cardiovascular disease and the other chronic diseases were the subjects of a deep and lengthy panel discussion. Participants included several officers of the World Heart Federation, including then-President Fuster and then-Chairman of the Scientific Council on Epidemiology and Prevention Srinath Reddy. Also during last year’s meeting, the Clinton Global Initiative invited the World Heart Federation to announce two major commitments for which it could request pledges of support. One was for the World Heart Federation’s demonstration projects in Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana and South Africa for the control of rheumatic heart disease. The other was for the development, production and delivery of a fixed-dose combination drug therapy called a polypill for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. For more information visit: http://commitments.clintonglobalinitiative.org/projects.htm?mode=view&rid=209666 | |||||||
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