News Archive
January 2012
Medtronic Latin America launches Women's Heart Disease Awareness Campaign in Brazil
What Else is Behind the Bikini? That's the question Medtronic Latin American is asking Brazilians in an initiative to address noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) through a multi-faceted campaign designed to raise awareness of heart disease in women.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are estimated to account for 72% of all deaths in Brazil, with cardiovascular disease claiming more lives of Brazilian women than any other disease. So Medtronic Latin America launched What Else is Behind the Bikini? to educate individuals about the importance of women's heart health and provide tools that foster conversations between women and their healthcare providers.
In March 2012, Medtronic Latin America will also feature What Else is Behind the Bikini? at an educational event as part of the campaign's efforts to engage referring physicians on the issue.
December 2011
Commitment to One Million Health Workers Challenge
According to the World Health Organization, there is a shortage of at least one million frontline health workers in the developing world. The shortage of doctors is particularly acute in areas of poverty or instability, but evidence indicates that empowering other levels of health staff – such as community health workers – to provide a wider range of health services can have a significant impact.
Launched in conjunction with the September 2011 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, the One Million Health Workers Challenge is a collaborative effort among the United Nations and public and private sector coalitions to support training and education of frontline health workers over the next five years.
At Medtronic, our commitment to the One Million Health Workers Challenge is realized through a critical strategy of our Global NCD Initiative: Strengthening Health Systems. The Medtronic Foundation funds several projects that directly or peripherally educate, train and assist health workers in providing care, including:
- Training Module and Curricula Development (Building Training Capacity)
- Development of Toolkits and Guidelines
- Healthcare Delivery Models
- Policies and Accreditations for health workers
November 2011
Diabetes Awareness Month, World Diabetes Day Draw Attention to Global Challenge
Diabetes is one of the fastest growing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) globally, with an estimated 346 million patients worldwide.
According to the World Health Organization, people with diabetes require at least two to three times more healthcare resources than people without the disease, and diabetes care may account for up to 15 percent of national health care budgets.
In addition to increasing global access to diabetes care through innovative diabetes management technologies and support of training for healthcare professionals worldwide, Medtronic and the Medtronic Foundation participate in Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day events to draw attention to this global healthcare challenge.
Learn more by listening to a podcast with Dr. Francine Kaufman, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Global Clinical Affairs for the Diabetes business of Medtronic.
September 2011
Medtronic Foundation Announces Additional Commitment to Address Noncommunicable Disease
On Sept. 14, 2011 the Medtronic Foundation announced an additional $3.4 million in grants to support international health programs specifically designed to address prevention, treatment and control of NCDs. They include:
- A $500,000, two-year grant to the Harvard School of Public Health to launch "Teaching to Transform Global Health," an ambitious initiative to develop an educational curriculum accessible to schools of public health, medicine and nursing in any country, designed to address critical public health issues, including NCDs;
- A series of grants totaling $600,000 to the World Heart Federation and seven other organizations to fund coordinated activities to promote the global prevention and control of Rheumatic Heart Disease. Grants will fund various partners in India, Africa and Latin America; and
- An additional $400,000 over the next two years to support research and training on the prevention and management of NCDs in China, India, Africa and Latin America by NCD regional centers of excellence, such as those established by UnitedHealth and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
United Nations Convenes High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Disease
In May 2010, the United Nations General Assembly issued a resolution to convene a High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) worldwide. Held September 19-20, 2011, the meeting represents a critical opportunity for world leaders to address this global health issue.
Medtronic and the Medtronic Foundation actively supported preparation for the UN High-Level Meeting through grants to the NCD Alliance and sponsorship of conferences and plenary sessions leading up to the meeting. These events brought together stakeholders from academia, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to recommend specific outcomes and solutions to chronic disease management.
The urgency of the global challenge presents a distinct opportunity for Medtronic to fulfill its Mission to contribute to human welfare by alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life. With expertise in treating a range of chronic illnesses – including heart disease and diabetes, two of the four leading NCDs globally – we are leveraging both corporate and philanthropic assets to achieve a meaningful impact.
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