School Officials, Experts Gather In Puerto Rico to Discuss Health-Promoting Schools

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 13 Jul 2004 - 20:00 PDT


Health promotion and school experts from 21 countries gather today in San Juan, Puerto Rico to discuss ways to improve health promotion and health education strategies in schools throughout the Americas.

The initiative, called Latin American Network of Health-Promoting Schools (LANHPS) was formed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in 1996. Its aim is to develop health promotion and health education strategies in schools, to reduce inequities in health and education, and to improve the quality of education and opportunities for integral sustainable development of school-age youth in the Americas.

More than 140 participants from the countries are joining representatives of seven international agencies and university experts at the week-long meeting of the network, which covers health promotion activities including prevention and control of HIV/AIDS; smoke-free schools, alcohol and drug prevention programs, the reduction of caries; the improvement of nutrition and physical activity; the promotion of mental health; the development of psychosocial skills (life skills) for students and educators; and the development of behavioral surveys on risk and protective factors and health-related behavior in children.

The Puerto Rico meeting will discuss ways to improve health, well-being, education and integral development of the school-age population, to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences, to strengthen alliances among sectors, organizations, agencies, and professionals, to contribute to capacity building, of the health and education sectors, and to formally constitute the Puerto Rican Network of Health-Promoting Schools.

Participants include delegates from member countries of the LANHPS and the National Joint Commissions responsible for the coordination of the Health-Promoting Schools Initiative in every country (a delegate from the Ministry of Health and a delegate from the Ministry of Education per country); representatives of NGOs, community-based and academic institutions, and strategic partners committed to health promotion and health education in the school setting. Also attending are representatives of UNICEF, UNESCO, WFP, FAO, ILO and other UN agencies, PAHO/WHO focal points, and members of the new Puerto Rican Network of Health-Promoting Schools.

The Pan American Health Organization, founded in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.

For additional information, contact Daniel Epstein, PAHO, Public Information, 202-974-3459

http://www.paho.org

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