Launch of the Partners' Forum for Action on Chronic Diseases

4 January 2010

As a supporting partner, IBLF is proud to announce the launch of the Partners’ Forum for Action on Chronic Diseases.

On 3rd December 2009, 160 leaders from business, governments and civil society gathered at the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) in Washington to launch a new public-private partnership.

The Partners’ Forum for Action on Chronic Diseases is a major new platform to inspire and support cross-sectoral partnerships against chronic disease in the Americas. The Forum will seek to mobilize support from people and institutions in the health, industry and civil society sectors to advocate for and catalyze positive changes in public policy, marketing, medical care and individual behavior to reduce the burden and impact of chronic diseases.

The initiative has been developed by PAHO/ WHO, in collaboration with the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and the World Economic Forum. It brings together a wide range of stakeholders from the private and public sectors and civil society in addition to the aforementioned partners, to work together in raising awareness about chronic disease and in catalyzing changes in public policy, marketing, medical care and in influencing individual behaviors with the aim of improving health and fostering economic and social development.

It focuses on on-the-ground action, with members having to sign a ‘Commitment to Action’ to join. IBLF, as one of the core members will be playing a significant role by building capacity for partnering and by making the case for collective action on health.

The initiative was originally proposed by PAHO and supported by IBLF, the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and the World Economic Forum. It focuses on on-the-ground action, with members having to sign a ‘Commitment to Action’ to join. IBLF is a key advisor to the Forum and will be playing a significant role in building capacity for partnering, making the case for collective action on health, brokering one or more of the working groups on specific topics and engaging companies.

Audra Jones, Americas Director for IBLF said: “PAHO’s Partners’ Forum is an essential, timely and ambitious initiative to begin to build the mass-scale and coordinated response required across the Americas. The International Business Leaders Forum is delighted to be a founding partner of the Forum, and contribute its 20 years’ experience of building capacity for, and facilitating, cross-sectoral action, and the learnings and experience from its Healthy Eating-Active Living programme.”

Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes are the leading causes of premature death and illness throughout the Americas – and yet experts say that as much as 80% of heart disease, stroke and diabetes and 40% of cancers are preventable.

Dr. Mirta Roses, Director of PAHO/WHO, said the enhanced partnership approach represents a paradigm shift to actively engage other sectors, including a diverse range of other partners.

Related Links
PAHO
Partners Forum for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
The World Economic Forum