Healthy Cities Movement Growing in Argentina

Towns and cities throughout Argentina are mobilizing grassroots campaigns to get their residents to adopt healthier, more active lifestyles, to help reverse the rising tide of chronic noncommunicable diseases.

Supporters of the campaigns gathered in Buenos Aires in September for the 6th National Day of Healthy Communities and Municipalities, organized by Argentina's Ministry of Health, the Argentine Federation of Municipalities, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Participants included officials from national and provincial health ministries and representatives of community groups.

Data presented at the meeting showed that more than half of Argentine adults are overweight and 14.6 percent are obese. Even more alarming, nearly a third of children 5 and under are overweight. Nearly half of Argentines report low or very low levels of physical activity. These trends correlate with rising rates of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

To counter the trends, health-conscious localities have joined together to form the Healthy Municipalities and Communities Network, which now counts 290 communities among its members. Among initiatives described at the meeting was "Argentina Walks," a campaign that urges people to walk or do other physical activity 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Ministry of Health officials said such lifestyle changes contribute to weight loss and can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases by as much as 70 percent.

Other campaigns include organized community walks and other participatory activities promoting healthy diets, smoke-free environments, sexual and reproductive health, and active aging, as well as efforts focused on environmental quality. In addition to mobilizing citizen involvement, the campaigns deliver health promotion messages via posters, direct mail, and public service announcements on television and radio and in newspapers. During the meeting, awards were given for the best posters used in health promotion campaigns.

Argentina hopes to expand the Healthy Municipalities Network to 700 member communities by 2010.

"The role of cities and towns in promoting health and better quality of life is becoming more and more important," said José Antonio Pagés, PAHO representative in Argentina.

More information can be found in PAHO's Mayors' Guide for Promoting Quality of Life.