Washington, DC, April 4, 2003 (PAHO)—For the first time ever, "Health in the Americas Week" kicks off Monday, starting with the observance of World Health Day on April 7 at the Pan American Health Organization and many other sites.

The events of the week are dedicated to promoting healthier environments for all children in the Americas. "By promoting healthy homes, healthy schools and healthy communities, we can shape the future and make a real difference in the lives of millions of children," said Dr. Mirta Roses, director of the Pan American Health Organization.

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"Millions of children throughout the Americas suffer from conditions such as unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, indoor air pollution, deficient food hygiene, poor housing, and inadequate waste disposal. Outside the home, many of them face risks from dangerous chemicals, toxic waste, industrial pollution, and other environmental hazards," she noted.

The World Health Day ceremony at PAHO on April 7 at 10 am will feature Ecuador’s First Lady, Ximena Bohorquez, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson, representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Organization of American States, PAHO’s director, and Daniel Swartz, executive director of the Children’s Environmental Health Network, as well as Brazilian cartoonist Mauricio de Souza, creator of "Monica."

On Tuesday, April 8, a Children's Environmental Health Fair will be held at the HHS Building on Independence Avenue, with a series of environmental health activities and games for children.

The full schedule is below:

Monday April 7
Kickoff event at PAHO – 10 a.m. –Ceremony commemorating World Health Day
Confirmed participants: Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, Director, Pan American Health Organization; Daniel Swartz, Keynote Speaker, Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network; Sra. Ximena Bohorquez, First Lady of Ecuador; Brazilian cartoonist Mauricio de Sousa and "Monica" Kids Panel; Invited dignitaries: HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, officials from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Organization of American States.

Tuesday, 8 April 2003
Children’s Health Fair at the Humphrey Building
HHS and EPA will hold a children’s health fair in the Great Hall (9:30 a.m.) Focus will be environmental health for children and related topics. There will be booths, games and activities for children. Guests to include: Dr. Mirta Roses, Director, PAHO, Surgeon General Richard Carmona, and officials from the EPA and other agencies.

Wednesday, 9 April 2003
Border Event –Joint HHS-EPA-PAHO Activity
HHS and EPA will hold a joint event on the U.S.-Mexico Border in conjunction with the PAHO Field Office in El Paso highlighting health and the environment themes.

Headquarters Event: Healthy Housing for Healthy Children
Communicable Diseases and Environmental Health Units in cooperation with Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the American Mosquito Control Association are organizing a children’s workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. focusing on safety and health in the home environment. The objective is to teach young people about mosquitoes, their life cycles and habitats, the diseases they carry, and safe ways of keeping them out of the house. The workshop also will inform students of the many potential health risks in the home, and to go over fun, safe ways to minimize them.

Thursday, 10 April 2003
Launch of Virtual Public Health Campus
PAHO’s Human Resources program will launch the Virtual Public Health Campus. The program will be web cast and the PAHO country office’s staff and invited guests will be able to participate through video conferencing via satellite. Dr. Mirta Roses, two ministers of health and two deans of participating schools of public health have been invited to participate in this program that will be highlighted by the signing of the memorandum of understanding through the electronic signature system. The launch will be at the World Bank.

Friday, 11 April 2003
Headquarters Event: Health Promotion and Health Education in the School Setting
PAHO will host a mid-day (11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) debate on integrated school health programs and the importance of the Health-Promoting School Regional Initiative. A panel of students, teachers, parents, and school administrators will discuss their concepts of integrated school health programs.

Saturday, 12 April 2003
Headquarters Event: 7th Annual Walk for Health: PAHO Centennial Plaza – 10:30 a.m.
The annual World Health Day event at PAHO is open to all PAHO staff, their families, friends, neighbors and anyone interested in celebrating World Health Day.

Monday, 14 April 2003
Organization of American States Event: Day of the Americas
The OAS is planning a special conference on "Children, Health, and the Environment" to celebrate Pan American Day. (10 a.m.) Among speakers will be Dr. Mirta Roses, Lic. Alejandro Bonasso, Director of the Interamerican Children’s Institute, and Dr. Richard Meganck, Director of the Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment (USDE) at the Organization of American States. The conference will be web cast live and then placed for on-demand viewing on the OAS and the PAHO web sites.

PAHO, established in 1902, is the world's oldest public health organization. It works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their inhabitants. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.

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