Don Francisco urges campaign to reduce obesity
Television superstar addresses PAHO Directing Council
Washington, D.C., 26 September, 2005 (PAHO)—Television star Don Francisco, named as a Pan American Health Organization "Champion of Health" for his support of public health, today asked health ministers from the Americas to join in a campaign to reduce obesity.
TV host Don Francisco at the Directing Council. (photo Armando Waak/PAHO)
Please visit the 46th Directing Council Photo Gallery
Click here for the full agenda and all documents of the meeting.
"I am here today to emphasize what many say it is the number one health problem globally, a problem that I have suffered all my life: obesity," said Mario Kreutzberger, best known to some 100 million viewers as Don Francisco, star of the "Sábado Gigante" television program on the UNIVISION network.
"Our societies are used to computers, television, and electronic games. In schools sport is not promoted as much as it should be, and junk food has been dominating the basic basket of goods," said Don Francisco, asking the health ministers to make a genuine hemispheric commitment to promote healthy lifestyles that combat sedentary lifestyles, obesity and poor diet.
"If there is a commitment from all the Pan American governments, we can, through PAHO, carry out a great campaign to end sedentary lifestyles and obesity, two problems that reduce the quality of life and shorten the life of adults," he said.
The entire world knows that tobacco is clearly harmful to health, "But I doubt that all of us have that same level of awareness with regard to foods high in fat and cholesterol."
The director of PAHO, Dr. Mirta Roses, thanked Don Francisco at the inauguration of the 46th Directing Council of PAHO, saying she knows Kreutzberger, of Chilean origin, is an international authority in mass communication that has lent his voice and image for public service health campaigns.
PAHO, established in 1902 is the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization and works with the countries to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples. The Directing Council, composed of ministers of health of the Americas, meets annually to set health policies.
For more information please contact , PAHO, Public Information, 202-974-3459.