C3 Collaborating for Health is a global, not-for-profit

non-governmental organisation A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see American and British English spelling differences#-ise, -ize (-isation, -ization), spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from g ...

, based in London, that exists to find solutions to fight the epidemic of

non-communicable disease A non-communicable disease (NCD) is a disease that is not transmissible directly from one person to another. NCDs include Parkinson's disease, autoimmune diseases, strokes, most heart diseases, most cancers, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, os ...

s (NCDs).

The C3 approach

C3’s focus is on the main

risk factors In epidemiology, a risk factor or determinant is a variable associated with an increased risk of disease or infection. Due to a lack of harmonization across disciplines, determinant, in its more widely accepted scientific meaning, is often use ...

–

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...

use,

physical inactivity Physical inactivity refers to the lack of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in a person's lifestyle. It is distinct from sedentary behavior. Health effects The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined physical inactivity as a global public ...

, and poor

diet Diet may refer to: Food * Diet (nutrition), the sum of the food consumed by an organism or group * Dieting, the deliberate selection of food to control body weight or nutrient intake ** Diet food, foods that aid in creating a diet for weight loss ...

(including the harmful use of alcohol) – which between them cause the majority of many of the major NCDs –

cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, h ...

(

heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, hea ...

and

stroke A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...

), type 2

diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...

, chronic lung disease and

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

C3's work

The United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs (September 2011) calls for a 'whole of society' approach to tackling NCDs. To this end, C3 works with a range of organisations that affect public health and prevention of NCDs, including health professionals and local community leaders, businesses, NGOs, researchers, planners and young people. * Health professionals and local communities: Health professionals, local health advocates and researchers are well placed to use their knowledge and evidence to change attitudes and promote health and wellbeing throughout communities. * Working with businesses: Businesses can develop their core activities to provide a wider range of healthy options for consumers and employee, creating an environment in which it is easier to make healthy choices. * Workplace health: The workplace offers opportunities to help the working-age population – and, through them, their families and wider communities – to live healthier lives. *Bringing together the many people and organisations that can influence health - e.g. through regular International Breakfast Seminars. *Raising awareness of issues such as the 'early origins of health' (the first 1,000 days of life).

Publications

C3 has produced a number of reports (e.g. on the benefits of physical activity for health) and also raises awareness of the importance of tackling NCDs and the risk factors through other media, e.g.: * letters on cycling in ''The Times'' and walking in ''The Economist''; * journal articles, e.g. in ''Globalization and Health'',C. Hancock, L. Kingo and O. Raynaud, 'The private sector, international development and NCDs', ''Globalization and Health'' 7:23 (July 2011) http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/7/1/23 accessed 27 July 2012. ''Nursing Education Today'', and the ''

Nursing Standard ''Nursing Standard'' is a weekly professional magazine that contains peer-reviewed articles and research, news, and career information for the nursing field. The magazine was founded in 1987. It is published by RCNi. The magazine is abstracted and ...

''.

Further information

C3 was founded in 2009 by

Christine Hancock Christine Hancock (born 12 February 1943) was the General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing from 1989 to 2001. She attended Orpington Girls Grammar School (now Newstead Wood School), and then began her nursing career at King's College Hosp ...

, former general secretary of the

Royal College of Nursing The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is a registered trade union in the United Kingdom for those in the profession of nursing. It was founded in 1916, receiving its royal charter in 1928. Queen Elizabeth II was the patron until her death in 2022. ...

and past president of the

International Council of Nurses The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations. It was founded in 1899 and was the first international organization for health care professionals. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerl ...

. C3 is a registered charity (no. 1135930) and a company limited by guarantee (no. 6941278), registered in England and Wales.

References

{{Reflist Health education in the United Kingdom International medical and health organizations International organisations based in London Non-profit organisations based in London Organisations based in the London Borough of Sutton