Jordan: Center of new Arab science e-network
Announced at the first annual meeting of the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) in December 2011, Jordan will become the central hub of new regional science collaborations across the region...
UK: Healthy vending machine project launched
In an effort to encourage kids to eat healthier snacks during the day, the British Heart Foundation launched a pilot project to install healthy vending machines in 30 schools across the UK...
Bangladesh: IAPs are a major source of chronic disease diagnoses
Informal Allopathic Providers (IAPs) - such as medicine shopkeepers and village doctors - play a large role in diagnosing chronic diseases in rural areas, according to new research involving more than 32,000 people...
UK: Green space headed to cities and towns
A new initiative, called the Green Infrastructure Partnership, will encourage cities and towns to transform existing grey infrastructure into new green spaces such as rooftop gardens, small community gardens, and living walls...
Europe: UEFA EURO 2012 to be smoke-free
UEFA has banned the use, sale, and promotion of tobacco products in all stadiums hosting final matches during the European Football Championship, the world's third largest sporting event...
Global: World No Tobacco Day theme announced
The theme for World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 2012 will be "tobacco industry interference" and will focus on the need to highlight and counteract the tobacco industry's attempts to undermine the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)...
Africa: Libraries can contribute to community's health
The majority of librarians and local officials believe that libraries can help improve the health of individuals and communities by providing access to health information, according to a new survey involving librarians and the general public in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe...
Global: UN Summit discussions delayed
Negotiations on the Political Declaration (formerly called the outcomes document) for the upcoming UN High-level Meeting on NCDs have stalled because member states could not reach a consensus...
Global: Incorporating local wisdom in health promotion
To achieve best-practice health, programs need to empower and involve local communities and their unique cultural conditions throughout all every phase of health promotion, according to new research...
Botswana: Anti-tobacco network established
The Anti Tobacco Network (ATN), now a formally-registered society, emphasizes collaboration between tobacco control activists and other stakeholders...
Global: Young professionals manifesto on NCDs
The Young Professionals Chronic Disease Network (YP-CDN), a global network of health professionals, recently released a manifesto with seven recommendations for the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs...
UK: Online physical activity and nutrition network receives funding
PANacea, The National Heart Forum's online physical activity and nutrition network, was recently awarded up to UK£153,000 from the Department of Health's Innovation, Excellence and Service Department Fund...
Perspective: What is the key priority for the UN Meeting?
In the winning entry for the Center for Strategic and International Studies blog contest, Nalini Saligram, founder and CEO of Arogya World, believes the key priority of the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs is to "ensure it lives up to its promise of being a genuinely transformative moment in world health..."
Zambia: New collaboration to promote health care for all
The Global Healthcare Information Network recently announced HIFA-Zambia, a global communication program that will bring together organizations and individuals worldwide who are interested in improving health in Zambia...
Kenya, US: Academic collaborations to fight CVD epidemic
The USAID-AMPATH collaboration (a collaboration between Moi University in Kenya and more than 12 academic institutions in the US) has developed an academic model for understanding, treating, and preventing cardiovascular and pulmonary disease...
Jamaica: Government launches national nutrition campaign
The Jamaican government recently launched the "Eat Jamaican" campaign, which is aimed at increasing local food production and encouraging people to make healthy choices by eating locally produced foods...
Mexico: Entangled anti-obesity efforts
Despite new regulations that ban the sale of unhealthy foods in schools, many high-sugar and high-fat offerings are still available to students...
Latin America: Launching the Healthy Latin American Coalition
Forty Latin America organizations recently launched the Healthy Latin American Coalition (HLAC), and released a declaration that recognizes NCDs as a health emergency and deterrent to human development in the region...
Africa: New initiatives to address cancer
The African Organization for Research and Training recently announced a new multi-year initiative to address cancer prevention, control, and care in Africa...
US: Barbers help in lowering blood pressure
Barbers trained to check their customer's blood pressure, offer advice, tell stories, and help refer clients to doctors if they didn't have one helps men control their blood pressure, according to a new study...
