Online Program

325023
Buena Salud (Good Health) Americas, Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Through Community-Based Initiatives


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 4:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Marcela Gaitán, MPH, MA, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, Washington, DC
Edgar Gil, MBA, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, Washington, DC
Maria Gudelia Rangel Gomez, PhD, MPH, Executive Secretary of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission, Mexican Ministry of Health, Mexico DF, Mexico
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death in most regions in the world killing more than 36 million people annually. In the region of the Americas, 77% of deaths are due to NCDs where cardiovascular diseases are responsible for the larger proportion of these deaths. Health risk factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and the harmful use of alcohol increase the risk of or cause most NCDs. Through the Buena Salud Americas Initiative, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) are bringing together the government sector and civil society in efforts for the prevention and control of NCDs with the common goal of achieving health for all in the Americas.

In February 2015, the Alliance, PAHO, and the Mexican Ministry of Health, will convene a joint meeting to support multi-sectorial collaboration for the prevention and control of NCDs focusing on advocacy at the community level. Through real-life examples and advocacy training, the meeting will help build the capacity of community-based organizations and civil society groups in the Americas to promote policies and systems that affect public health policy and promote community engagement. The sessions will focus on building local capacity through advocacy training of community leaders and civil society members, develop strategic partnerships, and help foster program sustainability. A particular focus of panels will be elected officials and community advocates presenting on soda tax and food labeling efforts in the Americas.

This presentation will highlight advocacy tools; soda tax and food labeling advocacy in the Americas; the development and implementation of partnership activities; profile best practices presented at the meeting; and, provide recommendations for action.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Provision of health care to the public
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Describe government/community advocacy efforts in the implementation of policy on sugar-sweetened beverages and food labeling in the Americas. Understand the challenges and socio-demographic implications faced by local communities in the Americas in reducing risk factors for NCDs associated with nutrition. Identify steps towards the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Prevention of Obesity in Children and Adolescents. Increase knowledge base on capacity building for advocacy, strategic partnerships, and sustainability of grassroots efforts for NCD prevention and control. Identify key opportunities for collaboration and multi-sectorial partnerships addressing risk factors for the prevention and control of NCDs in the region of the Americas.

Keyword(s): Advocacy, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have 20 years experience and as Senior Director for External Relations at the Alliance lead the International Health portfolio including serving as the principal investigator of the Buena Salud Americas initiative.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4427.0: Advocacy in Global Health