Cuba: Time to Expand Health in All Policies.

Area of Science:

• Public Health Policy
• Health Equity
• Global Health Security

Background:

• The Adelaide Statement promotes integrating health into all policies (HiAP) for improved well-being and equity.
• Cross-sector coordination is vital for achieving policy goals and enhancing public health outcomes.
• Cuba's experience in disaster preparedness and combating arboviral diseases like dengue demonstrates effective cross-sectoral action.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine Cuba's response to the Zika virus outbreak in the context of Health in All Policies principles.
• To highlight the role of cross-sectoral coordination in public health emergencies.
• To analyze Cuba's strategies for surveillance, prevention, and control of arboviral infections.

Main Methods:

• Review of Cuba's public health initiatives and policy responses to Zika.
• Analysis of existing cross-sectoral collaboration mechanisms, drawing from hurricane preparedness and dengue control.
• Examination of Cuba's national 11-point Zika Action Plan.

Main Results:

• Cuba intensified surveillance, prevention, and control measures for Zika, building on prior arboviral disease expertise.
• Intensified efforts targeted Aedes aegypti and albopictus mosquito populations.
• A comprehensive national 11-point Zika Action Plan was implemented to prevent, detect, and respond to arboviral infections.

Conclusions:

• Cuba's proactive and coordinated approach, guided by Health in All Policies principles, effectively addressed the Zika threat.
• Experience with previous public health challenges facilitated a robust response to Zika.
• Cross-sectoral collaboration is a key determinant of success in managing emerging infectious diseases.