| News | No.37 February 2003 |

RAFA: La Red de Actividad Física de las Américas PANA: The Physical Activity Network of the Americas An Introduction and Overview Physical Activity Network of the Americas Opening Declaration We, the undersigned, recognizing the importance of promoting health and quality of life through physical activity and respecting the principles expressed in the São Paulo Manifesto to Promote Physical Activity in the Americas, have met October 4 – 6, 2000 in São Paulo, Brazil, hosted by CELAFISCS and supported by PAHO and CDC, to establish the Physical Activity Network of the Americas. We have agreed to promote the expansion of this network to include a representative from all countries in the region. We have also agreed to provide leadership in our respective countries to build the concept that this international group will be a “Network of National Networks” with criteria for international and national representation to be determined. We believe that this network will be a first step towards ultimately achieving a global network to promote health and quality of life through physical activity . Background to RAFA The Americas are experiencing an epidemic of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) leading to preventable morbidity and mortality. Physical inactivity is an important underlying cause of these NCDs. La Red de Actividad Fìsca de las Amèricas (RAFA)/The Physical Activity Network of the Americas (PANA) is created with the objective of building a “network of national networks” integrating members of public and private institutions both nationally and internationally to promote health and quality of life through physical activity. RAFA/PANA work with members to develop, share and coordinate strategies, which strengthen efforts to increase knowledge, benefits and the levels of physical activity among populations in the Americas. The Network includes members of public and private institutions that initiate or develop physical activity programs, as well as national and international organizations that can advise and sponsor member activities Summary of Development Process: A Network of National Networks The Physical Activity Network of the Americas was inspired by a combination of local and international factors. Agita São Paulo and other community-based programs in the Americas demonstrated that physical activity promotion was timely and feasible. On the international front, WHO expanded its health promotion efforts into physical activity starting with a planning meeting in Geneva in February 1997. This was followed in September 1998 by a meeting in Ottawa, Canada in which an Active Living National Policy Network was proposed. The concept of starting a regional network in the Americas evolved simultaneously from regional programs and international recommendations. During the 21st and 22nd International Symposium of Sciences and Sport held in São Paulo, (October 1998- 1999), representatives from several countries of the Americas discussed and developed the first official document to promote physical activity in the Americas, entitled “The São Paulo Manifesto: Promoting Physical Activity in the Americas.” Since this time, The Manifesto has been translated into English, Spanish and Portuguese and has served as the basis for physical activity promotion throughout the Americas. Representatives from the Americas, international institutions and organizations reconvened in São Paulo, Brazil during the International Symposium of Sciences and Sport held in October 2000. During this meeting, it was decided that the Physical Activity Network of the Americas would officially be established as a means for sharing information and strategies to promote physical activity in the Americas. It was agreed that RAFA would develop activities, as much as possible, in synergy with the CARMEN Programs, which are prevention programs for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) coordinated by PAHO, allowing “better communication and sharing of experiences and knowledge among countries.” Current Structure of RAFA With increased momentum among RAFA members following the success of meetings held in Caracas, July 2001, São Paulo, October, 2001 and Miami, January 2002, a small executive committee chaired by Dr. Victor Matsudo from Centro de Estudo do Laboratório de Aptidão Física de São Caetano do Sul (CELAFISCS), was elected in January 2002. (Figure 1 Structure) Persons of the executive committee were nominated from North, Central and South America and the English-speaking Caribbean and unanimously confirmed by all participants present. The members include: Mr. Randy Adams (Health Canada) Dr. Jorge Franchella (Argentina); Dr. Margarita Claramunt-Garro (Costa Rica); Dr. Rocio Gamez (Colombia); Dr. Manuel Ramirez Zea (INCAP/PAHO/Guatemala); Arlene Nicholson (Jamaica); Jim Whitehead (ASCM, USA); Dr Michael Pratt, Dr. Becky Lankenau, and Andrea Neiman (CDC, USA); Dr. Enrique Jacoby, Dr. Lucimar Coser-Cannon, PAHO, USA); Dr. Pedro Alexander (Venezuela). Through 2003, the executive committee will work to facilitate, disseminate and coordinate activities and events of the network as well as operationalise the network. Current Activities of RAFA Coordinate follow-up activities around World Health Day; Involvement in International Prevalence Study using International Physical Activity Questionnaire demonstrating the feasibility of collecting internationally comparable data. Develop guidelines for various aspects of the Network; permanent secretariat RAFA membership Voting Operation of the network Develop or identify a website for RAFA and link this site to key existing websites; Figure 1 Structure * PAHO 3rd Meeting of the CARMEN/CINDI Working Group on Physical Activity, Miami, Florida USA 2 February, 2002 http://www.icsspe.org/portal/texte/area/bulletin/ RAFA News