PAHO News – April 11, 2002

In this edition:
-WORLD HEALTH DAY IN CANADA
-PAHO COMMEMORATES WORLD HEALTH DAY
-WORLD HEALTH DAY DEALS AT THE PAHO ONLINE BOOKSTORE!
-PAHO REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON EQUITY IN HEALTH
-NEW DEADLINE FOR PAHO ACTIVE CITIES AWARD
-PROPOSALS SOUGHT TO STUDY BLOOD TRANSFUSION, HEPATITIS C
-HEALTHY AGEING IS VITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT
-JOB POSTING: ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONAL OFFICER IN VULNERABILITY REDUCTION
FOR QUITO, EQUADOR
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WORLD HEALTH DAY IN CANADA

Groups across Canada marked World Health Day with events and activities.
The Canadian Society for International Health, as PAHO’s technical
representative in Canada, organized a “Move for Health” activity for
grades 7 and 8 students at York Street Public School in Ottawa on April
8. CSIH executive director Janet Hatcher Roberts brought greetings from
PAHO, and then the fun began!  Participants included Olympic gold
medalist Glenroy Gilbert, who did 10 laps of the gymnasium with two of
the students, and also showed all the students his Olympic medal and a
video of his winning relay race; Roy Berger, world record-holder for the
most push-ups in one minute – he demonstrated push-ups and a students’
relay team competed with him; top triathlete Bruce McNicoll; and Nancy
Lauzon, health promoter with the Ottawa Heart Institute.  Ms Lauzon
spoke to the students about the importance of physical activity and good
nutrition. She also demonstrated heart monitoring equipment, using the
athletes and students as guineapigs!

Later in the day, Ms Roberts and CSIH’s program manager for PAHO, Helene
Thibault, were speakers on a World Health Day panel organized at the
University of Ottawa by the Ottawa Student Health Inititative, part of
the Student University Network for Social and International Health
(SUNSIH).  Other speakers included Elaine Johnston, the Assembly of
First Nations’ health director, Dr. Andre Lalonde, executive
vice-president of the Society fo Obstertrics and Gynecology, medical
student Placide Rubababza, and Dr. Rachel Thibeault, an occupational
therapist and community psychologist.

Other SUNSIH groups across the country also held events to mark the day.
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PAHO COMMEMORATES WORLD HEALTH DAY

The slogan of World Health Day 2002,“Move for Health,” is meant to raise
awareness that regular physical activity is key in the efforts to
improve the health of people in all the countries of the Americas.
Every year, April 7th is designated World Health Day and serves as a
launch day for a long-term advocacy program for which activities will be
undertaken and resources provided.  Physical activity does not need to
be arduous in order to be beneficial. The World Health Organization
defines physical activity as "all movements in everyday life, including
work, recreation, exercise and sporting activities."
http://www.paho.org/English/DPI/100/100feature14.htm
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WORLD HEALTH DAY DEALS AT THE PAHO ONLINE BOOKSTORE!

The lack of physical activity is the principal cause of diseases such as
obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. However, there is no
need to become an athlete. Moderate physical activity, if practiced 30
minutes either daily or on most days of the week, can be highly
beneficial for health. Fighting against inactivity is a challenge that
PAHO has to deal with. As a part of this effort, the PAHO Publications
Program is offering at a special price on some publications related to
obesity, nutrition, and health promotion. This special offer is in
effect from March 29th to April 15th and is valid only for on-line
purchases.  Visit the bookstore at:
http://publications.paho.org/english/news.cfm?ID=60
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PAHO REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON EQUITY IN HEALTH

In conjunction with the International Society for Equity in Health’s
second international conference, there will be a PAHO regional
consultation on “Policy Tools: Equity in Populations Health” in Toronto,
Canada on June 16-17, 2002.  Speakers will include academic scholars as
well as researchers. In addition, a number of invited policy-makers and
representatives of different health organizations from around the world
will attend and participate in the discussion. Key themes include:
measurement of inequalities, targeting the poor, allocation of health
resources, and health impact assessment.  For more information, visit:
http://www.paho.org/English/HDP/hdp-toronto.htm.
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NEW DEADLINE FOR PAHO ACTIVE CITIES AWARD

The application deadline for PAHO’s Active Cities Contest has been
extended to April 26, 2002. In celebration of the World Health Day 2002:
"Move for Health!", which is dedicated to the promotion of Physical
Activity, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are co-sponsoring the award to
recognize the outstanding cities and municipalities in the Region of the
Americas for their efforts in improving public spaces for safe
recreation and promoting physical activity.  Although the health
benefits of physical activity are well known, two out of every three
persons living in an urban area lead sedentary lifestyles. Physical
inactivity is a serious public health problem that results in adverse
health outcomes and increased health care costs. Access to public spaces
for safe recreation and activity is crucial and has a major influence in
promoting a physically active lifestyle.  For more contest information,
visit: http://www.paho.org/English/HPP/HPN/whd2002-award.htm
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PROPOSALS SOUGHT TO STUDY BLOOD TRANSFUSION, HEPATITIS C

As part of the Blood Safety Initiative, the Pan American Health
Organization will support studies aimed at studying the role of
transfusion of blood products in the epidemiology of hepatitis C
infections in the Americas. Proposals are requested from Latin American
and Caribbean institutions that have the technical and operational
capacity to conduct epidemiological and biomedical research in
accordance with the protocol guidelines. The overall goal of this effort
is to prevent the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) through the
transfusion of blood and its components.  Proposals are due on April 30,
2002.  For further details, visit:
http://www.paho.org/English/HSP/HSE/HSE06/abst_prop_hcv.htm/
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HEALTHY AGEING IS VITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT

In a rapidly greying world, healthy ageing is vital for countries'
economic development, declared the World Health Organization (WHO) at
the Second World Assembly on Ageing which takes place this week in
Madrid.  WHO unveiled a new roadmap to assist countries in designing
policies to enhance health for ageing people. According to this policy
framework, the prevention of noncommunicable diseases, starting in early
childhood, is the mainstay of healthy ageing. A demographic revolution
is underway throughout the world. Thanks to unprecedented public health
advances and successes in many parts of the world, the proportion of
people age 60 and over is growing faster than any other age group.
Challenges posed by ageing, such as the increase in noncommunicable
diseases, however, can be surmounted by promotion of healthy lifestyles
and appropriate preventive action.  A "life course approach" or setting
the stage for healthy ageing early on in life is needed.  For the full
article, visit: http://www.who.int/inf/en/pr-2002-24.html.
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JOB POSTING: ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONAL OFFICER IN VULNERABILITY REDUCTION
FOR QUITO, ECUADOR

PAHO is seeking an Associate Professional Officer in Vulnerability
Reduction for Quito, Ecuador.  The successful candidate’s duties will
include: promoting the adoption of disaster-related topics for the
training of human resources in health-related areas by teaching,
research and off-campus activities; promoting the consolidation of a
university network to facilitate the exchange of information and the
development of integrated and coordinated activities; advocacy and
technical cooperation with health and engineering institutions;
developing training materials, as well as compiling and distributing
technical documents on disaster preparedness; and organizing courses,
workshops, seminars and other training activities.  The closing date for
applications is April 23, 2002.  Those interested in the position should
refer to the full posting at:
http://pahoapl.paho.org/pahoexternalenglish/ASEPage_JobDetail.ASP.
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