Ovations, a unit of United Health Group that is focused on the prevention and management of chronic illness, is making a long-term commitment to addressing this critical public-health challenge on a global scale. Announced at the Clinton Global Initiative, Ovations will lead efforts to develop a network of Centres of Excellence. Dr Derek Yach of the Rockefeller Foundation, and previous Executive Director of WHO responsible for this field, and Dr Allan Rosenfield, Dean of the Columbia University School of Public Health, have been tasked to identify how best to establish these 'Centres of Excellence' in those parts of the world where resources can be deployed with maximum impact to combat chronic diseases. Developing countries, including India and China, will be the priority areas of concern.
This work will be initiated in a global summit hosted by Ovations in Washington in early 2007. As part of this activity, Ovations will partner with the Oxford Health Alliance and other chronic disease initiatives, and will also work closely with those involved in addressing infectious chronic diseases such as AIDS and tuberculosis.
Ovations will provide the funding necessary to lay groundwork for the global campaign over the next six months. Beyond this preliminary funding, the organisation will contribute long-term support as the priorities of the campaign become refined and will also contribute medical and managerial expertise to the fight against chronic illness.
Ovations believes that the private sector, NGOs and government must move quickly to confront the chronic disease crisis in the most systematic, intensive and practical manner possible.
Sources: The Lancet, 22 September 2006 (click here >>), www.clintonglobalinitiative.org