Jon Secada Receives PAHO "Champion of Health" Award

Washington, D.C., December 15, 2004 (PAHO)—Recording Artist Jon Secada today received the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) "Champion of Health" Award for his humanitarian work and support for health programs.

In a ceremony here, PAHO Deputy Director Dr. Joxel García said, "Environmental health issues affect our children the most. With Jon Secada as a champion of health we are helping showcase healthy environments for children throughout the Americas."

Secada, a Cuban-American pop singer whose music is a mix of R&B, pop and Latin sounds, also is an actor and has performed on Broadway. He won two Grammys in the 1990s: Best Latin Pop Album in 1992 and Best Latin Pop Performance in 1996 for his Album "Amor".

After receiving his "Champion of Health" award, Secada said "I am very proud to receive this award and to be involved with an organization that deals with urgent health themes that affect our children."

"The whole world can unite around health," Secada said. "It's very important to be persistent, as I have been in my career and as PAHO is in its work to improve health."

Secada has supported PAHO campaigns by appearing in television public service announcements on blood donation, AIDS, vaccination, violence and teenage pregnancy.

He is also scheduled to perform at halftime of tonight's NBA Washington Wizards' game against the Miami Heat, a special "Healthy Environments for Children" awareness night, as part of a Wizards/PAHO partnership. The initiative also supports efforts of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve children's environmental health.

PAHO was established in 1902 and is the world's oldest public health organization. PAHO works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and the quality of life of people of the Americas. It serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).