Iniciativa CARMEN-Costa Rica, cinco a？os de intervención comunitaria en enfermedad cardiovascular

objective: documenting and valuating intervention of “cartago revitalizes heart” program, as an answer to heart disease in health local stage. methods: work of five years was synthesized and valued, in nine different projects. activities performed in all projects during five years were registered and a value was done, comparing what was done with annual action plans, a qualitative analysis determined the program’s strengths and weaknesses. results: he participated in eight work centers, 14 schools and eight communities. the direct beneficiaries were 543 employees in the workplace, 370 school teachers and 736 neighbors in the communities. 1 649 were also carried out assessments of cardiovascular risk. the assessment indicates a 84% achievement of performance goals and the greatest strengths were the motivation of staff in the program and the carthaginian municipal government support. the biggest weaknesses are lack of adequate resources and not be operational priority the prevention of cardiovascular disease for local institutions. conclusions: the methodologies adopted, adapted and created to intervene in the problem allow a job with a technical level possible be used and re-validated in other local areas of the country