Join us on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (EST) on the webinar of Accelerating the Prevention of NCDs and Risk Factors in the Americas, the fourth webinar of the regional series “Best Practices for NCDs”. This webinar will help identify and disseminate good practices and "Best Buys" that are accelerating countries' responses to prevent NCDs, strengthen alignment with the Better Care for NCDs Initiative, and promote their replicability and scaling, with a focus on equity and social determinants.
Objectives of the webinar
- Present selected experiences of countries that are implementing cost-effective actions for the prevention of NCDs and risk factors.
- Identify common elements of success (governance, regulatory frameworks, financing, implementation, monitoring) and barriers faced by countries.
- Highlight the value of integrating the approach to risk factors with the approach of social determinants and with strategies from the initiative Better Care for NCDs.
RECORDING
Visit the NCD Good Practices website
Discover innovative and effective experiences in the prevention, control, and surveillance of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Region of the Americas. Through the PAHO Public Health Good Practices Portal, you will find validated cases that have demonstrated positive results and can be adapted to different contexts. We invite you to explore these initiatives, learn from other countries, and participate in our webinars, available at the following link: PAHO NCD Good Practices.
How to participate
- DAY: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
- TIME: 11:00 a.m. (Washington, DC time or EST) [See the bottom of this page for times in other cities]
- LANGUAGES: English, Spanish, and Portuguese with simultaneous interpretation in those languages.
- REGISTRATION: https://paho-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JnuzexluTuqW2j62H0eZ-Q
- If there are difficulties accessing the Zoom room due to it exceeding capacity, the recording will be sent via email to registered participants.
Agenda
- 11:00 a.m. - Welcome remarks
- Vanessa Garcia Larsen, Unit Chief, Risk Factors and Nutrition, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, PAHO.
- 11:05 a.m. - Good Practices in the Prevention, Control, and Surveillance of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)
- Eliane Pereira Dos Santos, Advisor, Knowledge Management and Networks, Unit of Science and Knowledge for Impact, Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health, PAHO
- 11:20 a.m. - Argentina: Interdisciplinary Strategy for People with Morbid Obesity: "Step by Step, for a Great Change."
- Maria Florencia Quintana, Director of the Provincial Department of Nutrition, Ministry of Health of the Province of Jujuy.
- 11:30 a.m. - Colombia: RESET Alcohol Roundtable, a space for technical and political dialogue to strengthen public policy on alcohol
- Silvia Camila Galvis Rodriguez, Group for Social and Civic Coexistence, Ministry of Health.
- 11:40 a.m. - Brazil: Assessment of sodium and potassium intake in children and adolescents.
- Leticia Cardozo, Director of the Department of Epidemiological Analysis and Surveillance of Noncommunicable Diseases, Ministry of Health.
- 11:50 am - Mexico: Protection of non-smokers through spaces that are 100% free of smoke and emissions
- Sandra Patricia Avilés Soriano, Officer-in-Charge of the National Office for Tobacco Control, Government of México.
- 12:00 a.m. - Uruguay: "Outdoor Gymnasium" Project Competition to promote active environments
- Laura Garre, Executive Director, Honorary Commission for Cardiovascular Health, Ministry of Health
- 12:10 p.m. - Q&A from participants
- 12:25 p.m. - Conclusions
- Silvana Luciani, Unit Chief, Noncommunicable Diseases, Violence and Injury Prevention, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, PAHO
Background
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases – represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Region of the Americas. Their growing burden poses significant challenges for health systems, especially in contexts of inequity and limited access to quality services.
Against this backdrop, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) promotes the strengthening of Primary Health Care (PHC) as a fundamental axis for early detection, timely treatment, and comprehensive monitoring of these conditions.
Within the framework of the "Better Care for NCDs" initiative, PAHO has identified and validated various good practices implemented in countries of the region, which have proven to be effective in strengthening the diagnosis, treatment, and comprehensive management of NCDs, especially from the first level of care. These actions are aligned with the commitments adopted by Member States at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) high-level meetings on NCDs, and seek to accelerate progress towards more resilient, equitable, and people-centered health systems.
This fourth virtual seminar—part of a regional series organized by PAHO—will present successful experiences validated by the Organization, available on the Portal of Good Practices in Public Health. It seeks to make visible and analyze experiences of countries that are promoting concrete actions to reduce risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy eating, and physical inactivity) and to promote healthier environments.
You can check the agenda and recording of the other sessions of this series at the following link.
Time in other cities
- 8:00 a.m. – Los Angeles, Vancouver.
- 9:00 a.m. - Belmopan, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, San Salvador, San José (Costa Rica), Tegucigalpa.
- 10:00 a.m. - Bogotá, Kingston, Lima, Panama City, Quito,
- 11:00 a.m. - Bridgetown, Caracas, Castries, Georgetown, Havana, La Paz, Nassau, Ottawa, Port-au-Prince, Port of Spain, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Saint George's, Saint John's (Antigua), Santiago, Washington D.C.
- 12:00 a.m. – Asunción, Buenos Aires, Brasilia, Montevideo, Paramaribo.
- 5:00 p.m. – Geneva, Madrid.
For other cities, please check the local time on this link.