The Society for Research in Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), the InterAmerican Heart Foundation and local partner ABEAD were the organizers of the 1st SRNT and 2nd Iberoamerican congress, which took place September 5-7. It exceeded everyone's expectations. Registration had to be closed as more people wanted to attend that could be accommodated at the Gloria Hotel in Rio where it took place. Renowned international speakers included Robert West, Ayda Yurekli, Margaretha Haglund, Armando Peruga, Stella Aguinagas, Patricia Ayala, Cynthia Hallett, Geoff Fong, Jim Thrasher, Corné Van Walbeek, Francis Thompson among others. The 330 participants came from most countries of the Americas as well as Spain, South Africa, Thailand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

"We intend to repeat the event in two years" said Dr. Shuchleib, President of the Foundation. SRNT and IAHF are seeking interested parties willing to manage the local organization of this important event. Appreciation goes to American Cancer Society, NIDA, NCI, INCA, PAHO, J & J, Pfizer, Pfizer Brasil, GSK, GSK Brasil, AHA, World Heart Federation, and Free and Clear for their support of this event.

The IAHF was created as a federation of heart associations and foundations from the Americas with the mission of reducing heart diseases and stroke in Latin America and the Caribbean. Organized legally in 1995, the Foundation is led by people from LAC. Its focus is advocacy and one of its top priorities is tobacco control.  About five years ago it organized the FCTC Working Group to promote ratification and the strongest possible implementation of the FCTC in LAC. Dr. Eduardo Bianco became then its Director of Tobacco Control for the region. More...  

Among its accomplishments in tobacco control are the following:

• 2006 WHO/PAHO World No Tobacco Day Award to the Foundation for its role in the ratification and implementation of the FCTC in the region.  Its role was called an excellent example of true “Pan Americanism”.

• Its Director of Tobacco Control, Dr. Bianco, received the American Cancer Society International Achievement in tobacco control Award 2006 and also a WHO award for World No Tobacco Day 2003..

• Research on secondhand smoke and cardiovascular disease done by IAHF consultant, Dr Joaquin Barnoya in conjunction with Dr. Stan Glantz, was named by the American Heart Association as one of the Top 10 Scientific Advances of 2005.

• Carried out three Interamerican Journalism Contests on Tobacco Control to engage the media with these issues. The 4^th Contest has just been announced.

• Regional and national FCTC Workshops to promote ratification and implementation of the FCTC with various partners:

  • March 17-20, 2004, FCTC Workshop, Buenos Aires

  • April 14-17, 2004, FCTC Workshop, Guatemala City

  • May 13-15, 2004, FCTC Workshop, Quito, Ecuador

  • May 16-19, 2004, FCTC Workshop, Santiago, Chile

  • September 15-17, 2004, FCTC Workshop, Bogotá, Colombia

  • April 4-5, 2005, Tobacco Control Workshop, Buenos Aires

  • April 18-19, 2005, Tobacco Control Workshop, México City, México

  • April 26-27, 2005, Tobacco Control Workshop, Kingston, Jamaica

  • August 17-18, 2005, International Legislative Workshop, Buenos Aires

  • March 23, 2006, Workshop, Bogota, Colombia

  • April 5-6, 2006, FCTC Monitoring Workshop, Mexico City

  • July 2006, World Confererence Tobacco or Health, Wash DC—organized LA meetings

  • March 7-9, 2007, Andean Region Workshop, Lima, Peru

• On-line introductory course on tobacco control in Spanish at: www.cursocontroltabaco.org

• 2^nd Interamerican Workshop on Tobacco Control Research to identify research priorities and collaborations to promote research for advocacy, Colonia, Uruguay.

• Currently co-sponsoring the 1^st SRNT Latin American Congress and 2^nd Iberoamerican Tobacco Control Conference to take place in Rio, Brazil, 2007, www.srntrio07.com.br.

• Numerous actions in the form of letter writing campaigns, press conferences, legislative sessions, public opinion polling to advance TC policy change.  Have had a behind the scenes role in many of the positive changes occurring in LAC.

• Press conferences (selected):

  • March 19, 2004, Buenos Aires, press conference

  • September 15-17, 2004, Press Conference, Bogotá, Colombia

  • November 30, 2004, press release

  • November 15, 2005, Press Conference, Buenos Aires

  • January 23, 2006, Press Conference, México City, México. Denouncing Mexico’s government’s agreement with the tobacco companies

  • February 9, 2006, Press release, Geneva

  • February 18, 2006, Press release, Mexico City

  • April 5-6, 2006, Press conference FCTC monitoring, Mexico City

  • August 24, 2006, Press conference Smokefree environments, Buenos Aires

  • March 23, 2007, Press Conference Smokefree environments, Buenos Aires

  • May 29, 2007, Press Conference, Launch of the 2^nd FCTC report from Civil Society, Mexico City

• Manage an internet network (CLACCTA) of advocates in LA as well as a separate network for Caribbean advocates.

• CARMELA Study will soon publish significant information regarding smoking prevalence, passive smoking, quit attempt, medical advice in 7 Latin American cities.

• Sponsored the publication of a summary of the situation regards Secondhand Smoke in LAC in Prevention and Control, 2006.

While the IAHF works from the perspective of civil society, it has strong connections to governments whenever objectives align.  Thus, for example, the Foundation has recently conducted a capacity building workshop with government officials of the Andean Pact nations in Lima, jointly with FCA.  The IAHF is in official relations with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).