Convergent strategies for transportation, development, the environment and health: Lessons in sustainability and equity from urban Latin America

Objective:
This session will explore the convergence of strategies addressing health promotion and chronic disease prevention with those aimed at social engagement and equity, environmental protection and sustainable transport. 

Key messages and links to conference theme:
The first three presenters will explore cases from Brasil, Peru and Colombia originating in turn from public health, transportation, and local government, and address how the experience in these settings may translate to urban centers around the world. In Recife in the NE of Brasil the public health sector has developed a program of community-based exercise classes connected with primary care clinics as a first step towards addressing the primary prevention of chronic disease. However, before classes can begin in the poor neighbourhoods which are targeted the city must first invest to improve the infrastructure and safety of small neighbourhood plazas and parks. The Academia da Cidade program targets mostly women from poor neighbourhoods and is a highly visible effort to provide city services to populations and neighbourhoods which are often ignored. Academia da Cidade is immensely popular in the neighbourhoods, with politicians and among public health leaders. Our second case comes from Arequipa, Peru where a bus rapid transit (BRT) system is being developed to bring low cost, environmentally friendly transportation to the city. The project is coupled with the creation of a network of walking and cycling paths and supports which simultaneously provide healthy choices for PA, a greener environment, and a more efficient and equitable transport system. The final case study is of the explosion of the ciclovia concept across the Americas with a focus on the largest and most successful program in Bogotá, Colombia.  The session will close with a brief presentation by the moderator exploring synergies among these experiences and relevance in other urban settings around the world, followed by an open panel discussion with the audience.

Format:
interactive panel

Moderator:
Dr. Michael Pratt, Chief, Physical Activity and Health Branch, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, USA
Presentation (PPS, 5.15 MB)

• Prof. Deborah Malta, Departamento de Análise de Situação de Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Brazil
  Presentation (PPS, 8.7 MB)
  
• Dr. Claudia Adriazola, Senior Associate, EMBARQ, The WRI Center for Sustainable Transport, World Resources Institute, Washington DC, USA
• Prof. Olga Lucia Sarmiento, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Centro de Estudios e Investigación en Salud, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogota, Colombia
  Presentation (PPS, 6.11 MB)