This post was authored by William Zoghbi, MD, MACC, immediate past president of the ACC.

Over the last few years, and especially last year during my tenure as ACC president, I had the opportunity to become greatly involved in the United Nations (UN) Summit on Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The ACC has partnered with the World Heart Federation, the European Society of Cardiology and the American Heart Association through the NCD Alliance to collectively advocate to the World Health Organization for inclusion of essential cardiovascular prevention and treatment targets after the first UN Summit on NCDs commenced in September 2011. All of the proposed targets were approved in late 2012 and a Global Action Plan that reflects these targets will be finalized at the World Health Assembly meeting in May 2013 in Geneva.

Recently I was reminded of how much our actions, even few words, affect others. I was contacted by Carlo Dall'Olmo, MD, a vascular surgeon in Michigan who is originally from the Republic of San Marino (an enclaved microstate surrounded by Italy), who was inspired by a statement I made regarding the lack of public awareness of NCDs and related issues. Dall’Olmo agreed this lack of awareness is an important component of the overall problem, as it is something that he and his colleagues experience every day.

In an effort to increase public awareness about cardiovascular diseases, and unbeknown to me, Dall’Olmo approached Marino Manuzzi, MD, the director of the Filatelic Agency in the Republic of San Marino, and suggested that his agency take a lead role in public education by creating a stamp with a simple story line that would be dispersed throughout the world. Thus, the “cardiovascular diseases” stamp will be released on April 3 by the Republic of San Marino. It is their hope that the stamp will help to raise public awareness about cardiovascular disease in the campaign to combat NCDs.

This is truly amazing and inspiring. I applaud Dall’Olmo on his resolve and Manuzzi on his appreciation of the weight of this issue. Public education actions like these are helping us achieve the overarching goal of a 25 percent reduction in preventable morbidity and mortality by 2025. With every step we take, we make our way closer to the goal. The ACC stands strongly behind this vision and will continue to advocate for the importance of achieving this important target.

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