CINDI Highlights • Number 8 - Health Promotion Agency

4
Introduction
Global strategy for NCD prevention and control
In 2002, CINDI continued to actively support the implementation of the WHO
global strategy for NCD prevention and control. The programme participated in the
global forum on NCD prevention and control, Shanghai, 4-6 November 2002, and
the meeting on the Mega Country Health Promotion Network, Geneva, 11-13
December 2002. The issues of the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and monitoring of
health behaviour were emphasised at the meetings.
CINDI cooperation with other WHO regional offices was strengthened: At the
annual meeting of CINDI Programme Directors, Nicosia, Cyprus, the status of
establishing NCD prevention and control networks in the WHO African and eastern
Mediterranean regions was presented. Collaboration with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, USA, continued with focus on developing a system for
health behaviour monitoring in CINDI participating countries and strengthening
national capacity building on health promotion and disease prevention.
The CINDI Health Monitor
CINDI has a standardised methodology and comprehensive system for monitoring
and evaluating the programme, at both national and demonstration-area levels.
The CINDI protocol and guidelines specify the core indicators and the methods to
be used for measuring them for international collaboration. Monitoring and evaluation
are carried out at regular intervals using agreed indicators and applying an agreed
methodology for epidemiological surveys.
The CINDI Health Monitor is a survey to reflect health behaviour and lifestyle-related
risk factors to carry out at the CINDI demonstration area, regional or national level.
This activity is supported by the National Public Health Institute, Finland, and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA. The methodology of the survey is
based on the experience of the Finbalt Health Monitor project on health behaviour
monitoring in which Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania participated.
In 1999-2002, 32 surveys were conducted in 26 CINDI-participating countries.
Data was collected by using a postal questionnaire or by a telephone or personal
interview. Information covered smoking, food habits, physical activity, alcohol intake
and personal assessment of health of people aged 25-64.
Preliminary analysis of the pilot phase of the project indicates that it is feasible to
implement such a survey across CINDI-participating countries and international
comparison of information on health behaviour is possible.
Capacity building on health promotion and disease
prevention
CINDI training course in Chronic Disease Prevention
A five-day training seminar on Evidence-Based Public Health: A CINDI Training
Course in Chronic Disease Prevention took place in Schruns, Austria, on 7-11
October 2002. This seminar was a joint effort of the WHO CINDI Programme,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, USA, St Louis
University, School of Public Health, USA, CINDI-Austria, CINDI-Finland and CINDI-
Lithuania. There were participants from 30 countries.
The course was a training seminar that provided theoretical knowledge and
improved practical skills on evidence-based NCD prevention and health promotion.
Numerous new professional contacts between participating countries have been
established. The course gave a fresh impetus, cohesion and motivation to the further
implementation and development of CINDI in participating countries. The course
stimulated the development of national or regional training materials and training
courses as well as new national or international preventative research.
Fifth CINDI Winter School
A five-day training seminar on community-based health promotion and chronic
diseases prevention was hosted by the National Public Health Institute, Finland, in
February 2002. The CINDI Winter School was the fifth training course at which
CINDI experience on the implementation of an integrated approach to NCD
prevention and control was presented. The WHO global strategy for NCD
prevention and control was introduced and practical guidance on national NCD
control programmes provided. Experience on preventative intervention in smoking,
nutrition, physical activity, high blood pressure or high level of cholesterol was
discussed. Practical CINDI programme implementation examples were presented.
A Shatchkute, MD
Regional Adviser
Chronic Diseases Prevention