|
World Health Day 2002
April 7th 2002
Active Cities Contest
AWARD TO OUTSTANDING CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC SPACES FOR RECREATION
AND PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THE AMERICAS
"Move for Health!"
World Health Day, April 7th 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 an 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. This activity is part of the global healthy municipalities and communities movement. Countries in the Latin American and Caribbean Region are especially encouraged to participate.
An active lifestyle is one of the best investments for individual and community health. Regular physical activity, even of moderate intensity, reduces the risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, osteoporosis, colon cancer and obesity. The benefits, however, go well beyond those of disease prevention. Regular physical activity also facilitates better stress management, alleviates depression and anxiety, strengthens self-esteem, enhances mood and boosts mental alertness. Additionally, it provides social benefits through increased social interaction and integration. Among children and adolescents, regular physical activity and exercise have shown to improve school performance, increase the sense of personal responsibility and group cooperation, and decrease consumption of drugs and alcohol.
The benefits of a physically active lifestyle can also be expressed in economic terms. For every US$ 1.00 invested in physical activity, in terms of time and equipment, US$ 3.20 in medical expenses can be saved each year.
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. In addition to the need for lifestyle modification, PAHO and CDC recognize the need for environmental, social and policy changes to increase physical activity in the population. Access to public spaces for safe recreation and activity is crucial and has a major influence in promoting a physically active lifestyle.
With the support of:
PAHO and CDC are grateful for the support of the following organizations in this contest: Agita Sao Paulo, Brazil; ILSI Human Nutrition Institute; the Public Health Technology Assessment Center in Cali, Colombia (CEDETES); and Vida Chile, the National Council for Health Promotion in Chile.
Award
The most outstanding cities will be honored by the international community during an award ceremony at the Health Promotion Forum in the Americas held in Santiago, Chile, on October 20-24, 2002. Each awarded city will receive a commemorative plaque, recognizing their outstanding achievement. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the first and second place winners from the Category One countries (see "Eligibility" for details), $2500 and $1500 respectively. PAHO and CDC will also publicize the achievements of the awarded cities in the press and publications of the regional and local media.
Selection Process
All completed application forms submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by a panel of judges. The six most outstanding cities, in each regional category, will be pre-selected and subject to site visits before the final decision is made. The panel of three judges will consist of the Director of PAHO or a representative, a member of the PAHO Health Promotion and Protection Division, and a representative of CDC. The winners of the contest will be announced on June 5, 2002.
Eligibility
This contest is open to all cities in the Region of the Americas with a population of 30,000 to 1,000,000. Cities must be represented by their local authorities. Countries in the Latin American and Caribbean Region are especially encouraged to participate. Submissions will be considered from among two regional categories:
- Category One - Latin American and the Caribbean countries
- Category Two - USA and Canada
Three cities will be awarded in each category.
How Can You Participate?
The application form for the contest must be completed by a representative of the local government and submitted by postal mail or E-mail.
Deadline
The deadline for submitting the completed application form and all supporting documents is APRIL 26, 2002.
Application Form
Application form: PDF format [35KB] - Word format [254 KB]
Please submit your application to:
Pan American Health Organization
Food and Nutrition Program
Attn: Dr. Enrique Jacoby
525 23rd Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037-2895
USA
E-mail: jacobyen@paho.org
For more information on the Award, please contact:
Ms. Andrea Gerger
E-mail: gergeran@paho.org
| 
