Coalition For Americas Health

TO PREVENT AND CONTROL CHRONIC DISEASES, ALSO CALLED NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES OR NCDS, IN THE REGION OF THE AMERICAS BY PROMOTING AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO HEALTH, WELL-BEING, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THIS MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED BY INCREASING AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC, THE MEDIA, AUTHORITIES, AND OTHER SECTORS OF SOCIETY ABOUT THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF NCDS, THEIR RISK FACTORS, DETERMINANTS, AND RELATION TO INFECTIOUS DISEASES SUCH AS COVID-19.

1. PROMOTING HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE, AND EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEMS. THIS INCLUDES STRATEGIES TO REDUCE OBESITY AND OVERWEIGHT, WHICH IMPACTS ALMOST ALL NCDS. MAIN STRATEGIES INCLUDE FRONT-OF-PACKAGE WARNING LABELS FOR ULTRAPROCESSED FOODS, PROMOTING HEALTHY FOOD IN SCHOOLS, FISCAL POLICIES REGARDING SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES, REGULATING ADVERTISING/PROMOTION/SPONSORSHIP OF UNHEALTHY FOOD AND DRINK, AMONG OTHERS. PROJECTS IN 2022-23:1) PROMOTING FRONT-OF-PACK FOOD LABELING IN 3 CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES. SUPPORTED BY LINKS (RESOLVE TO SAVE LIVES) TO CDC EL SALVADOR. FUNDING TO CLAS CAME THROUGH CDC EL SALVADOR, WHICH IS A CONSUMER ORGANIZATION IN THAT COUNTRY CONNECTED TO CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL.2) TOWARDS A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE: EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH PROMOTION SUPPORTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTER (A QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION IN CANADA THAT PROVIDES GRANTS.)3) COLANSA. COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOR PROMOTING HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. SUPPORTED BY BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES.2. PROMOTING REDUCTIONS IN THE CONSUMPTION OF TOBACCO, NICOTINE, AND ALCOHOL. FOR TOBACCO THERE IS AN INTERNATIONAL TREATY IN EFFECT CALLED THE FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL OR FCTC, WHICH CONTAINS THE PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING TOBACCO AND NICOTINE USE SUCH AS WARNING LABELS ON PACKAGING, FISCAL POLICIES, SMOKEFREE ENVIRONMENTS, SMOKING CESSATION, AND CONTROLLING ILLICIT TRADE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS. FOR REDUCING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAS A PROGRAM (SAFER) WITH THE PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES FOR THIS PURPOSE, WHICH INCLUDE REDUCING ACCESSIBILITY TO ALCOHOL, FISCAL POLICIES, REGULATING MARKETING, ROAD SAFETY, TREATMENT, AMONG OTHERS. PROJECTS IN 2022-23: 1) LIVE BETTER DRINK LESS ALCOHOL CONTROL CAMPAIGN, FUNDED BY ROOFTOP PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM (WITH ORIGINAL FUNDING FROM PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION (PAHO). TO INCREASE THE COMMITMENT OF GOVERNMENTS AND SOCIETY TO REDUCE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND RELATED PROBLEMS THROUGH EFFECTIVE ALCOHOL POLICIES3. ADDRESSING THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CONDITIONS SUCH AS HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES. THIS INVOLVES STRATEGIES SUCH AS IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND MEDICINES, INCREASING AWARENESS AMONG THE PUBLIC REGARDING HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES, PROMOTING BETTER FUNDING FOR TREATMENT PROGRAMS, MOBILIZING THE PUBLIC TO REQUEST LOW-COST MEDS AND BETTER TREATMENT NEAR WHERE THEY LIVE OR WORK.PROJECT 2023:ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON THE PAN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SEPT 2022. HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.26633/RPSP.2022.165 WORKED ON PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT MODEL PROPOSED IN JOURNAL ARTICLE. 4. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF NCDS. PER THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, THESE ARE: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AND STROKE, CANCER, CHRONIC PULMONARY DISEASE, DIABETES, AND MENTAL DISORDERS. PROJECTS IN 2023:1) STRENGTHENING REGIONAL PROMOTION OF NCDS AND UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE (UHC)AROUND THE GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION ON NCDS SEPT 2023. SUPPORTED BY NCD ALLIANCE.5. STRENGTHEN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS REGION. IT MAY INCLUDE TRAINING, PLANNING EFFORTS, SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL ACTIONS REGARDING NCDS, AMONG OTHERS.PROJECTS 20-23:1) PUBLISHED AND DISSEMINATED A REGIONAL AGENDA FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF NCDS. 2) IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE POLICIES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN TO REDUCE NCDS. FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF PROMOTING FISCAL POLICIES, ENGAGING YOUTH, DEVELOPING A POLICY BRIEF FOR FINANCE MINISTRIES ON FISCAL POLICIES THAT IMPROVE HEALTH.