150 days after the Charter was officially launched in Brussels, it is time to acknowledge the amazing support from national societies of cardiology...
The European Heart Health Charter was officially launched on 12 June 2007 in Brussels among European officials and many representatives of the European Cardiac Societies and Heart Foundations.
Four months later, the ESC reports on how it feels to witness an unprecedented support from its member societies.
As we are writing, no less than 25 countries have launched or have planned to launch in the near future their own national version of the Heart Health Charter, with the involvement and commitment of national officials and partner organisations, hence promoting alliances and creating a favourable environment for heart health promotion.
The Charter was translated by Cardiac Societies or Heart Foundations into 22 European languages, all available on the website dedicated to the Charter.
A common feeling shared by all was the enthusiasm generated by the Charter and its launch at national level. Iceland in particular aimed at a very symbolic target. Mid-August, the Icelandic Cardiac Society and his president Dr Karl Andersen, along with the Health Minister and the Icelandic Heart Association were determined to “eradicate preventable heart disease in this country, and (…) are dead serious about it!”
The European Heart Health Charter is also seen as a fresh start compared to other cardiovascular disease awareness campaigns and helped bringing together new partners or reinforcing existing alliances. In Iceland, it helped the Icelandic Heart Association and the Icelandic Society of Cardiology “strengthen their collaboration in preventive cardiology and also (…) work more effectively with the health authorities”.
In Romania, the alliance created around the Romanian Cardiac Society, the College of Physicians and the Romanian Societies of Diabetes, Nephrology and Obesity, along with the Health Minister and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Research and Youth are determined “for the first time in the long history of Romanian medical specialties, (…) to reduce the cardiovascular burden in Romanian population using Prevention strategies”, says Professor Dan Gaita.
Most launches were blessed with the presence of at least the Health Minister, which shows that exchange and communication is possible with the highest health authorities. Cyprus was luckier, with the additional presence of fellow citizen Markos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health, who reiterated by his attendance his interest in heart health promotion across Europe. Dr Pambis Nicolaides, President of the Cyprus Cardiac Society, noted that “the presence of politicians was important, because they realised that health campaigns organised by doctors and the Foundation were not enough, and that effective policies measures and intervention changes in the legislation, educational programmes and agriculture policies were needed in order to promote a healthier environment and a healthier Europe”.
Although most launches across Europe borrowed some elements of the European launch in Brussels, each country adapted it to the local context. For instance, the launch of the Charter in Austria received a particular European focus as it took place at the opening of the ESC Congress 2007 in Vienna and involved the Health Minister Doctor Klodsky.
In Cyprus, the launch also took place in the House of Parliament. Other countries rightly took the opportunity of World Heart Day on 30 September to organise events. It was the case in particular for Slovenia, Slovakia and Estonia.
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, an event similar to the Brussels one was arranged, when the Foundation of Health and Heart of the Republic of Sprska, invited local children to participate in a balloon release.
Some countries, like Belgium, Greece or Poland have had difficulty in securing a convenient date, due to unstable political situation or general elections but the commitment and conviction of local stakeholders is still very strong. The launch eventually happened on 23 October in Brussels, in the presence of the Belgian Community Health Ministers.
In Lithuania - where the Health Programme has set the target to reduce mortality rates from both CHD and strokes for the population under 65 years of age by 15% through limitation of major risk factors for CHD in the whole population - the launch, attended by the President of Lithuanian Society of Cardiology, the Health Minister and the Director of Kaunas University Hospital, is "expected to address the inadequate control of risk factors of community and healthcare authorities. It was also the occasion to plant an oak-tree beside the Library of Kaunas University of Medicine".
Press and media are a constant parameter of all national launches, with good coverage in local newspapers and television. Indeed, the word “historic” comes back on many occasions at the launches’ events. As Dr Nick Boon, president of the British Cardiovascular Society puts it: “This is truly an historic moment in the battle against CVD. For the first time all EU Governments will work together to implement a range of uniform measures, including tobacco control, and marketing campaigns to improve unhealthy diets and help people to do more exercise.”
The ESC Committee for EU Relations will soon report to the European Commission on the adoption of the Charter across Europe. It makes no doubt now that the necessary support from Member States to adopt Council Recommendations has been built and the Committee can be even more demanding and ambitious in its relationship with European Institutions.
Find out more about the European Heart Health Charter here...