Lown Cardiovascular Research Foundation

2010
Olavarría: Tobacco Free City
Started in 2004, Olavarría: Tobacco Free City is a city-run, community-focused tobacco advocacy, education, and support program. By gaining support of local community leaders and businesses; working with health professionals; and engaging in a print, television, and radio campaigns, the program has garnered a tremendous amount of support from within the community. As a result of these efforts, Olavarria is now 100% tobacco-free in bars and restaurants as well as in many major shopping centers; 60 health workers, 50 teachers, and 350 students received tobacco-related training; and eight tobacco health centers have been established.

2009
Be Alive With Your Heart Uganda
Be-Alive With Your Heart is a grassroots effort in Uganda that promotes heart health from childhood through old age. It was developed by nutritionist Edward Buzigi and other health care providers who noticed a striking increase in the number of hospital patients with heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

2008
Rheumatic Heart Disease Prevention Program, Tonga
Dr. Toakase Fakakovikaetau, Tongas sole pediatrician, initiated this program to screen primary school children for rheumatic heart disease and provide early, effective treatment. As a result of the award publicity, The Lancet, a leading international medical journal, published a feature article about her work. Read “Toakase Fakakovikaetau: pioneering paediatrician in Tonga"

2007
Sow-a-Seed Project, Childrens Programme, Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa
The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa Children's Programme, based in Cape Town, South Africa, received the 2007 Heart Hero Award for teaching heart healthy practices, such as growing vegetables for their daily meals, to over a million children in rural and urban impoverished settings throughout South Africa. Child-care providers use music, activity books, and games to teach youngsters about nutrition, physical activity, the effects of smoking, and other health issues such as HIV/AIDS, and rheumatic fever.