About the Author: Krysten Carrera is a Presidential Management Fellow at the National Cancer Institute. She presently serves in the Department of State’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO).

If you knew that your child’s lifestyle would greatly impact his or her health as an adult, would you make a change?

Later this month, the United Nations will draw together health and policy leaders from around the world for a high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Part of the meeting will emphasize the importance of early disease origin, which requires considerable study and surveillance, to address the global NCD issue. By obtaining an accurate, wide range of data from a diverse population, health professionals and member states will be able to address public health threats more effectively through country-specific prevention strategies related to this health topic, saving economies around the world billions of dollars from lost productivity due to health issues.

Research suggests that environmental factors… more »

About the Author: Alberto Rodriguez serves as Spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Dr. Marilyn Wyatt, the wife of U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter, met with participants in the Lady Health Workers program at a health house in Jhelum, Pakistan on April 15, 2011. She highlighted how Americans are working with Pakistanis to save lives and improve health in poor communities.

The Lady Health Workers are receiving training through the Family Advancement for Life and Health (FALAH) project from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This four-year, $48 million program works in 15 districts in Pakistan to remove barriers to and increase information about birth spacing.

Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Wyatt said, “Evidence shows that when a woman plans her births, she has healthier children. The U.S.… more »