The World Health Organization organized the event “Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge” on May 19th in Geneva, Switzerland, coinciding with the eve of the inauguration of the 72nd World Health Assembly in the same city, inspired by the great success attained in the first edition of the event in 2018. This year, the event aimed to celebrate the importance of health and is recognition of the important role of the city as a central pole for global health.
Hundreds of people met at the Place des Nations in Geneva on May 19 in order to participate in numerous options of physical activities, such as walks and runs, led by the WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the First Lady of Kenya, Margaret Kenyatta, and many sports and artistic personalities from a variety of countries. The delegations of the countries of the Americas and of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) participated actively in all of the events.
PAHO had an interactive stand on the main square, in front of the Palace des Nations, where hundreds of people were able to test their physical abilities and do pre-warm-up exercises before starting to run. Representatives from other delegations of the Region also visited the PAHO stand to participate in the proposed activities. At the stand, information was shared on vaccination and work related to the health of the countries of the Region, giving emphasis to actions intended to advance towards universal health. PAHO Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, participated in the activities and welcomed visitors to the PAHO stand.
The main objectives of this event were:
- To raise awareness and the profile the work and goals of the WHO and of other global health agencies based in Geneva, highlighting the role of the city as a global health capital, in favor of global health.
- To involve delegates of the World Health Assembly, the United Nations family and the community of Geneva in a celebration of healthy lifestyle, assuring that everyone can access the health services they need.
- To continue promoting the global movement “Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge”, in order to promote health and, more particularly, physical activity as part of a healthy and sustainable future.
BIREME as a specialized Center of PAHO/WHO supports this and other pro-health actions from the WHO, disseminating campaigns on its communication channels, encouraging collaborators to adopt healthy lifestyles and inviting professionals to give lectures on topics related to nutrition and sports.
With the support of physical education professionals coordinated by Prof. Sergio Hiroshi F. de Carvalho, Auxiliary Coordinator of the Physical Education Course of Universidade Paulista, BIREME collaborators have been practicing, since May 2017, work gymnastics activities twice a week at the Center’s premises. In addition, following the PAHO/WHO calendar, one-off campaigns are held for orientation on health issues. This month, for example, the UNIP team held voluntary measurements of blood pressure to celebrate Word Hypertension Day.
The practice of physical activity and healthy nutrition are also encouraged for collaborators during their leisure time, as well as with their families.
According to Prof. Sergio, the importance of his work and the work of his students from Universidade Paulista lays in “the possibility of action in a model organization, which leads us to create parameters that we wish for the rest of society. We leave the written words of the academic world and to real action in favor of the health of the population; at the same time, students gain experience as future Physical Education professionals. It is a personal satisfaction to watch them grow, as well as to follow the progress of BIREME/PAHO/WHO collaborators!”
Sources:
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2019/05/19/default-calendar/walk-the-talk-the-health-for-all-challenge-2019
Pan American Health Organization: PAHO and delegations from the Americas participated in “Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge” organized by the WHO. https://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15170:ops-y-delegaciones-de-las-americas-participaron-en-del-dicho-al-hecho-el-reto-de-la-salud-para-todos-organizada-por-la-oms&Itemid=72512&lang=en
A new global action plan is analyzed in favor of a healthy life and well-being for all: https://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15174:analizan-el-nuevo-plan-de-accion-mundial-a-favor-de-una-vida-saludable-y-bienestar-para-todos&Itemid=72512&lang=en
Countries in the Americas Region to co-organize side events during the 72nd World Health Assembly. https://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15168:countries-in-the-americas-region-to-co-organize-side-events-during-the-72nd-world-health-assembly&Itemid=72512&lang=en