Global health. The current scenario and future perspectives

162 An effective organizational approach should include an action plan that incorporates mechanisms to foster and coordinate social participation, considering that population health is the primary objective. People and communities should equitably benefit from the proposed interventions, which may require measures that prioritize vulnerable or disadvantaged groups. A good action plan should also be intersectoral, with indicators and goals for different sectors, considering not only the reduction of mortality, morbidity and exposure to risk factors, but also the increase in exposure to protective factors by promoting well-being and reducing inequities. Interventions, whether structural or individual, should be evidence- based to avoid investing time and money in strategies known to be bound to fail. For example, large-scale communication campaigns promoting healthy lifestyles will not be effective if food and community environments do not support and even act as barriers to the promoted choices. These actions should be complementary and simultaneous. The World Health Organization proposes four strategic lines of action, which are summarized below (PAHO & WHO, 2013): 1. Strengthening and promoting multi-sectoral alliances with all relevant actors by integrating the importance of this issue into economic, academic and developmental agendas. 2. Reducing the prevalence of major risk factors for NCDs and strengthening protective factors by employing evidence-based strategies and policy instruments such as regulation and surveillance, while addressing social, economic and environmental determinants of health. 3. Improving coverage, access and quality of NCD care, with a focus on primary health care including prevention and self-care measures. 4. Strengthening countries’ capacity for NCD surveillance and research and using the findings as a basis for policy development and implementation of programs and strategies. Additionally, the NCD Alliance proposes four strategic pillars (NCD Alliance, 2016): • Performing global advocacy to fulfill political commitments on the prevention and control of NCDs. • Promoting accountability for commitments, resources and results in the prevention and control of NCDs. • Strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations and alliances at national, regional and global level.