DALLAS, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the leading volunteer public health authority in cardiovascular disease and stroke, the American Heart Association has been invited by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to participate in the World Health Organization's First Global Ministerial Conference.  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100222/AHSALOGO)  

"This represents an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to the dialogue that will shape how the global community will respond to the growing epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)," American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown states.  

The Ministerial Conference on "Healthy Lifestyles and Non-communicable Disease Control" scheduled for April 28-29 in Moscow is a key milestone in the global campaign to put non-communicable diseases on the global health and development agendas. The meeting will also be indicative of the recommendations nations will support in the United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of NCDs in September – the second only meeting by the United Nations on health since the 2001 HIV/AIDS special session.

Brown states: "It is truly an honor to join the U.S. Delegation to this meeting and inform these discussions based on our experience working with all sectors of society. We believe NCDs are a global health issue that requires an aggressive global response. Our ultimate goal is to save millions of people from premature death and debilitating health complications while promoting social and economic development."

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, is the world's largest killer, claiming 17.5 million lives a year and projected to remain the largest single contributor to global mortality in the future.

As a partner organization of the Geneva-based, NCD Alliance, the association is working with other U.S. based nongovernmental organizations to urge the United States to have the highest representation in attendance at the September High Level meeting. A key deliverable of this collaboration has been the development of concrete recommendations. 

As part of the association's mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, it's expanding international membership and its training presence positions it well to assist governments and share the latest in science, risk-reduction campaigns, and quality improvement programs proven to have significant impacts in the health outcomes of communities around the world. 

Brown asserts, "Heart disease has no borders and we stand ready to be a resource to our own government and others who may need our help."

The NCD Alliance Proposed Outcomes Document for the UN High-Level Summit can be downloaded at http://www.ncdalliance.org/sites/default/files/resource_files/NCD%20Alliance%20Proposed%20Outcomes%20Document%20for%20the%20UN%20High-Level%20Summit.pdf.

CORP11-1001 (WHO/Global Ministerial Conference)

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country.

CONTACT:
Diana Vaca McGhie: (202) 785-7917; diana.vaca.mcghie@heart.org

SOURCE American Heart Association