Keep up-to-date with the latest advances in CVD research, clinical practice, policymaking, and community programs at www.procor.org. Search the site to find the information you need quickly and easily—searches can be filtered by country, or region. To receive the latest information about CVD prevention via email, send a message to subscribe-procor@list.procor.org.

Newsroom
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Call for abstracts: IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion
The call for abstracts for the 20th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion on 11-15 July 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland, is available online. Submission deadline is 30 November 2009. Submissions are welcome that cover health promotion issues and links between promoting health and the environmental, economic, urban, social, and cultural. Abstracts for workshops, symposia, other innovative formats, and oral presentations/posters can be submitted in English, French, or Spanish. Submit abstracts at www.iuhpeconference.net.

Call for innovative technologies that address global health concerns
The WHO’s Department of Essential Health Technologies is calling for innovative medical devices, either existing or under development, which address global health concerns and which are likely to be accessible, appropriate, and affordable for use in low- and middle-income countries. Eligible technologies include instruments, medical equipment, implants, disposables, and software, used mainly for the purpose of prevention, diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of disease, or measuring, restoring or correcting physiological functions or control of conception; and must address global health concerns like ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, COPD, HIV/AIDS, and others. Submission deadline is 31 January 2010. Visit www.who.int/medical_devices/call for more details and the application form.

Certificate in global tobacco control
The application period for Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s 2010 Global Tobacco Control Certificate Program Scholarship is now open. Deadline is 6 December 2009. The program trains research scientists and tobacco control professionals to take a leadership role in the global tobacco control movement. Coursework includes two courses taken online over an eight-week term and four courses taken in person in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, from 14-25 June 2010. Selected international participants from developing countries will receive a scholarship that covers tuition, air travel, housing, and a stipend to attend the in-person coursework. Website: www.jhsph.edu/global_tobacco/education_training/certificate.

Diabetes call for papers
The Lancet invites submissions for its themed issue on diabetes care and research to be published on 26 June 2010. Authors of accepted papers will be invited to present their research at The Lancet/ADA symposium during the annual American Diabetes Association scientific sessions on 25-29 June 2010 in Orlando, Florida, USA. Submission deadline is 1 February 2010. For more information visit http://tinyurl.com/yfytbjo.

News

Prevention news updated daily at www.procor.org/prevention
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Kenya: Health officials to enforce smoking ban
Public health officials are being trained as public health prosecutors to strengthen their capacity to enforce Kenya’s nationwide anti-smoking law. Training will help cities and towns throughout the country become smoke-free, said Public Health and Sanitation Minister Beth Mugo.
Daily Nation: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/672524/-/uo0aia/-/index.html

Nigeria: New smoke-free law in Osun State
Nigeria’s Osun State passed a law on 20 October 2009 that bans smoking in indoor public places including restaurants, bars, public transport, prisons, and private vehicles with occupants under age 18 years. The law also prohibits the sale of tobacco products within 500 meters of schools, hospitals, sports venues, or similar facilities. Fines for individuals will be NGN10,000-25,000 (US$65-165) and NGN250,000 (US$1650) for businesses.
Information provided by Dr. Kingsley K. Akinroye, Team Leader, Nigerian Tobacco Situational Analysis.

South Africa: Charity Fun Walk
More than 500 people participated in the Charity Fun Walk sponsored by the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa and Blue Route Mall on 18 October 2009. The walk included a live Heart FM radio broadcast, face painting, a jumping castle, dance entertainment, and free goody bags for children and families. The fundraising event benefited the HSFSA’s Children’s Programme, which won ProCor’s Louise Lown Heart Hero Award in 2007.
Heart and Stroke Foundation SA: http://www.heartfoundation.co.za

Global: More people age 100 in the future
More than half of babies born in rich countries today will reach age 100 if current life expectancy trends continue, and those extra years will be spent with less disability and fewer functional limitations than in the past, Danish researchers report. According to data from 30 developed countries, in 1950 probability of survival from age 80 to 90 years was 16% for women and 12% for men; these values increased to 37% and 25% in 2002. As more people live longer, incidence of chronic diseases will increase; but early diagnosis and improved treatment could minimize disability from these diseases.
“Ageing populations: The challenges ahead”
Lancet 2009; 374: 1196-1208
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)61460-4/abstract

Global: Mobile phone health apps
Health care monitoring applications developed for the iPhone and other smart phones could prove useful in improving health care in developing countries, according to David Aylward, executive director of mHealth Alliance. A new application developed by start-up company Ringful offers services such as monitoring patients via their phones and delivering data from patient to caregiver, reducing costs and visits to the doctor or hospital.
VentureBeat: http://venturebeat.com/2009/09/29/could-mobile-health-apps-improve-care-in-developing-countries

Resources
Additional resources available at www.procor.org/resources
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Coming of beta-blockers
Video based on Brian Prichard’s seminal paper on treatment of hypertension with propanolol published in BMJ in 1964. Prichard discusses the paper’s impact, which led to propanolol becoming the first-line treatment for hypertension, saving thousands of lives before it was replaced by more modern drugs.
www.bmj.com/video/pritchard.dtl

From Kampala to the districts: Linking data, saving lives
Report on human resources information systems in Uganda featuring short personal accounts from local health professionals. Includes a video of local nurses discussing staff shortages and using data to improve health care. IntraHealth International, 2009.
PDF (3.07 MB): www.intrahealth.org/assets/uploaded/resources_09/kampala_to_districts.pdf
Video: www.intrahealth.org/news/355

Global Health Magazine: Chronic diseases
Quarterly print/web magazine highlighting major stories affecting global health. Fall 2009 issue focuses on the emergence of chronic diseases in developing countries. Addresses prevention, early screening, and treatment. Global Health Council, 2009.
www.globalhealthmagazine.com

Green Power for Mobile: Charging choices. Off-grid charging solutions for mobile phones
Report on a US$2.3 billion opportunity for mobile phone operators through provision of off-grid charging solutions such as solar phones or external solar chargers in emerging markets. Provides initial market information and a framework for decision-making about off-grid charging solutions. GSMA Development Fund, 2009.
PDF (597 KB): www.gsmworld.com/documents/charging_choices.pdf

Health information for all in Africa by 2015
Slide presentation addressing information poverty in Africa using knowledge and expertise from the HIFA2015 (Health Information for All by 2015) campaign. HIFA2015, 2009.
www.ahila.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24

JAMA Patient Pages
Compilation of more than 500 one-page information sheets for patients on medical issues. CVD-related topics include cardiac stress testing, chest pain, diabetes, heart failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, peripheral arterial disease, and more. All handouts are available as PDF files. Journal of the American Medical Association.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/collection/patient_page

The NET INWAT e-Zine: Nurses and tobacco control
September 2009-February 2010 issue is focused on nurses and tobacco control. International Network of Women Against Tobacco.
www.inwat.org/inwatnewsletter.htm

Obesity: Is the food industry more problem or solution?
Video debate outlining the role food companies play in global nutrition crises related to under- and over-nutrition. Panelists include Derek Yach, Global Health Policy Director for PepsiCo and leading Australian public health nutritionists Rosemary Stanton. University of Sydney, 2009.
www.themonthly.com.au/obesity-food-industry-more-problem-or-solution-2077

Rx for Change: Clinician-assisted tobacco cessation
Training program for health professional students and licensed clinicians to assist patients with smoking cessation. Based on the US Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Versions available include the 5 A’s; ask-advise-refer; psychiatry; cancer care providers; mental health peer counselors; and surgical providers. University of California, San Francisco.
http://rxforchange.ucsf.edu

Secondhand smoke exposure and cardiovascular effects: Making sense of the evidence
Report assessing the relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and acute coronary events. Indicates a 25-30% increase in risk of coronary heart disease from secondhand smoke exposure. Available to read online free of charge. US Institute of Medicine, 2009.
www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12649

Worksite wellness programs for cardiovascular disease prevention. A policy statement from the American Heart Association
Open-access recommendations for developing and implementing worksite wellness programs to address CVD and stroke prevention. Recommendations include incorporating the new program with existing employee assistance programs; providing health screenings, health education, and prevention activities; and addressing the needs of all employees.
Circulation 2009; published online 30 Sep 2009
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192653v1

CVD Calendar
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Cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Date: 7 November 2009 – 8 November 2009
Contact email: anazimd@yahoo.com

International course on tobacco control: Implementation of tobacco control strategies
Location: Paris, France
Date: 11 January 2010 – 15 January 2010
Contact email: anne-marie.lemaitre@ehesp.fr
www.ehesp.fr

First international cardiology, metabolism and thrombosis congress
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Date: 20 January 2010 – 23 January 2010
Contact email: info@icmtc-congress.com
www.icmtc-congress.com

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The Africa Cardiovascular Health Update is compiled by ProCor (www.procor.org), a news and discussion forum that promotes heart health and the prevention of cardiovascular disease through cost-effective practices in developing countries and other low-resource settings. ProCor uses email and the web to provide timely, unbiased health information to enable knowledge sharing among a global community working in clinical, community, policy, and research settings. To join ProCor’s Global Dialogue, send an email to subscribe-procor@list.procor.org or subscribe online at www.procor.org/joindialogue. Subscribing is free and anyone can participate.