Byline: SHIANEE R. MAMANGLU

The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday urged government authorities to provide a safe and conducive environment for people to do physical activities on the occasion of the celebration of World Health Day today.

The WHO has adopted the theme

"The habit of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a nutritious diet, ideally begins in childhood and we hope that parents and schools everywhere will use this day to spread this message," said Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtiand, WHO's director-general.

"We should all be ready to move for health and to adopt healthy and active lifestyles. World Health Day 2002 is a call to action to individuals, families, communities, governments, and policy-makers to move for health," she said.

According to Dr. Shigeru Omi, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, lifestyle diseases will be the most important diseases this century and studies have already proven that disease and disability caused by unhealthy and sedentary living are increasing.

It was learned that 60 to 85% of people in the world in both developed and developing countries - lead sedentary lifestyles. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of the world's children are also insufficiently active, with serious implications for their future health.

Omi said the government's role in helping changed sedentary lifestyle will not just help people financially but also minimize life-threatening diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

"Health messages are not always sufficient to alter people's lifestyle. We need our government leaders - both local and national leaders -- to do something and provide these people a conducive environment that will enable them to perform physical activities."

To bring about this conducive environment, the government should implement transportation policies that make it safer for people to walk and ride bicycles; legislate tobacco-free public buildings and spaces; build accessible parks, playgrounds, and community centers; and promote physical activity programs in schools, communities, and health services.

Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said local authorities should enforce ordinances that will prevent smokers from puffing puff on their cigarettes in areas where physical activities are being conducted. "If the citizens are vocal in expressing their throughts, for example, by telling the manager to keep smokers out of a restaurant, we will be able to create a healthy environment."

The WHO said sedentary lifestyles increase all causes of mortality, double the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obsity, and increase the risks of colon cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, lipid disorder, depression, and anxiety.

Support

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) expressed its full support yesterday for the observance of World Health Day today at the Luneta, acting Labor Secretary Arturo D. Brion said.

Proclaimed by the World Health Organization, the observance will be highlighted by mass calesthenics, and a "tiangge sa kalusugan" or fitness fair, which will promote goods, services, and information materials on a healthy lifestyle, diet and nutrition, and physical

fitness. (ETS)