HEARTS in the Americas: Guide and Essentials for Implementation

Description

File Size: 1.3 MB

By: Pan American Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Hearts Initiative and its HEARTS Technical Package in 2016 to strengthen preventive services in primary health care (PHC) with proven, scalable, and sustainable interventions.

As the WHO Regional Office for the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) leads the HEARTS in the Americas Initiative with a clear vision: By 2025, HEARTS will be the institutionalized model for cardiovascular disease risk management, including hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, across primary health care in the Americas.

Now in its sixth year, the initiative has grown from 4 pilot countries to 22 countries implementing the HEARTS model. This growth has generated valuable knowledge, best practices, and implementation experiences, all compiled into this new Guide and Essentials for Implementation.

📌 This manual:

• Complements the WHO HEARTS Technical Package Implementation Guide.

• Document lessons learned from scaling up HEARTS across diverse health systems.

• Provides practical guidance for coordination among ministries of health, scientific societies, partner agencies, and academic institutions.

• Supports national and subnational implementers in navigating all stages of implementation.

• Focuses on long-term sustainability and institutionalization of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management.

Intended Audience: National focal points, managers, coordinators at regional/provincial/municipal levels, and health facilities implementing the HEARTS model.

This resource is designed to be practical and user-friendly, addressing frequently asked questions about the objectives, components, and steps for implementation of HEARTS in the Americas.