Prevention in Action: Combating Non-Communicable Diseases Through Collective Health Action and Education

The Prevention in Action (PIA) project was launched to address the fact that cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are recognized as among the world’s deadliest, yet most preventable, health threats. The core focus is the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

PIA is a cross-border initiative aimed at preventing NCDs through a strategy involving education, early detection, and equitable access to health information. Its mission is to reduce the impact of NCDs by promoting healthy behaviours and empowering communities. The partners characterize PIA as more than a project, it’s a commitment to a healthier future.

The project runs for two years, from December 2023 to November 2025 and is led by a strong partnership between multiple Red Cross National Societies, including the Portuguese Red Cross, Hungarian Red Cross, Spanish Red Cross, Slovenian Red Cross, and Italian Red Cross. Through this collaboration, the National Societies support national and EU health policies and contribute to the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

The project specifically targets youth and people in vulnerable situations. Key beneficiaries include displaced individuals from Ukraine. 

PIA is projected to reach:

  • close to 15,000 children and youth;
  • 100 Red Cross staff and volunteers;
  • 100 vulnerable individuals receiving health promotion services.

PIA delivers educational activities in various community settings:

  • A Sudden Death Prevention Program is provided in schools and youth settings.
  • This program teaches children and teachers about the risk factors and early signs of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
  • Training is provided to help communities respond effectively in emergencies, such as CPR training for young people.

The project is developing a mobile application and remote monitoring tool intended to support individuals in managing their health proactively.

To ensure inclusivity, PIA develops culturally sensitive materials for vulnerable populations. These materials are made available at Red Cross health centres and are paired with enhanced screening and counselling during medical visits.

The activities undertaken by the PIA project help communities achieve essential outcomes, including:

  • recognizing warning signs early;
  • reducing risky behaviours;
  • responding effectively in emergencies, for example, through CPR training for young people. 

To amplify the project’s impact, the PIA team actively aligns its actions with commemorative health dates, such as World Bicycle Day, World Health Day, or World First Aid Day. These dates provide powerful opportunities to raise awareness, engage the public, and promote prevention messages to broader audiences.

The project’s strategy ensures that prevention does not happen in the shadows, but instead becomes part of a shared public conversation about health and solidarity.

By investing in education, partnering across borders, and making prevention accessible to all, the PIA partners are setting an example of what collective health action can achieve.

Stay tuned for updates, tools, and events by visiting the project’s website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook page, X and YouTube channel.

DUSE: Educating Youth for Lifelong Health and Diabetes Prevention

The DUSE (Counteracting diabetes using interdisciplinary educative programs) project addresses type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time. T2DM is classified as a lifestyle-related Non-Communicable Disease (NCD). It is often connected to modifiable risk factors, including obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy eating habits.

DUSE’s approach focuses strongly on prevention rather than cure. The core mission is to educate and empower children and adolescents to adopt and sustain healthy habits from an early age. This goal is achieved by promoting long-term well-being through regular physical activity and good nutrition.

DUSE launched in January 2024 and is scheduled to conclude in December 2026.

The consortium delivering the interventions includes partners from four participating countries: Italy, Greece, Romania, and Ukraine. The project is coordinated by Prof. Milena Raffi, Associate Professor in Human Physiology, University of Bologna.

The primary target audience consists of children and adolescents. During the first year of the project, the consortium successfully provided interventions to 463 kids across 10 schools. This work in Ukraine is particularly noted for giving children facing stress and uncertainty a sense of agency.

Prof. Milena Raffi, project coordinator, stated that DUSE is helping students build the curiosity, confidence, and skills required to take ownership of their well-being, demonstrating that prevention can be empowering and start early.

The project implements a truly interdisciplinary journey. Educational activities have included a variety of teaching methods:

  • Nutritional and cuisine lessons;
  • Interactive lectures;
  • Physical activity training;
  • Group works and physical activity days;
  • Students have specifically delved into subjects like nutrition science, endocrinology, and physiology.

PhD student Michela Bridi shared that it was inspiring to witness the children’s enthusiasm when they learned how to read food labels or design meals that were balanced.

DUSE harnesses mobile technology and innovative tools to engage students:

  • Students are engaged through a serious gaming app, which is a digital game designed to help them learn, train, or build healthy habits for real life.
  • The project uses the MIT App Inventor platform.
  • Students are encouraged to participate in app development labs and build their own health-tracking apps.
  • These innovative tools foster both self-awareness and a mindset geared toward digital innovation and entrepreneurship.

In its first year, the project has  successfully engaged  463 children in 10 schools within the four partner countries.

Project leaders and participants have shared insights on DUSE’s impact:

  • High school student Daniel reflected that designing an app about healthy habits helped him realize how much technology can assist people in living better, emphasizing that the process involved creating something meaningful for themselves and others.
  • Oleksandr Fomichov noted that in Ukraine, DUSE provided children facing “enormous stress and uncertainty” with hope, knowledge, and a sense of agency. This engagement shows that empowerment and prevention can “thrive even in times of disruption”.

As the school year continues, follow-up evaluations will be conducted. These evaluations will measure how the students’ behaviors and attitudes have evolved, specifically utilizing questionnaires and the analysis of food diaries.

DUSE is defined as more than a project, it is a movement toward cultivating a healthier generation. Everyone is invited to follow the progress and remain engaged. By working together, the goal is to help the next generation gain control of their health through smart choices.

For more information, visit the DUSE website.