Declaration of the Arab Children Health Congress 2008

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Raeda öAl Sarayreh
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Rasha Kashkoush
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Declaration of the Arab Children Health Congress (ACHC) - 2008

The Third Arab Children Health Congress 2008 in Dubai is unique and will be marked by its theme "Healthy Body, Healthy Mind". This Congress was initiated under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai and inline with his vision, to promote the health of the children, the leaders of the future.

With the commitment and direct support of Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, this Congress was held by Dubai Health Authority in collaboration with WHO headquarter and Regional Office.

The theme for this congress was selected due to the increased burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD), such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, which are considered as the leading causes of death. Scientific evidence has shown that prevention is the best approach to reduce the burden of these diseases.

The prevalent lifestyle trends highlighted by increased sedentary lifestyle, reduced physical activity and reliance on high caloric unhealthy diet led to the increased incidence of obesity and malnutrition. Childhood obesity and micronutrient deficiencies have lifelong adverse health consequences, contributing to the emergence of NCD.

The current lifestyle trends are modifiable and can be reversed. To accomplish that, proper planning and well executed interventions are essential. Solid policies and regulations should be established to protect the child from exposure to misleading advertisement. All concerned stakeholders for children's health including family, school, community, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations should be involved.

In response to these issues, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) will develop a regional action plan with a goal of integrating prevention and control of NCD, based on the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. The Regional action plan will include support of healthy lifestyles among children and adults, facilitation of healthier environments, provision of public information and health services, and major involvement in improving the lifestyles and health of individuals and communities. The National plans should be developed in accordance with the regional plan of action.

In addition, the main components of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health in relation to children's health will be incorporated within the WHO-EMRO health-promoting school initiative, which is adopted by most of the countries in the region.

Children's rights to healthy life has to be endorsed at all levels of society. After all, it is an investment in our children future. Research, surveillance and evaluations are essential to putting knowledge and evidence into practice.

The Congress, therefore, recommends the following:

At the National Level

• Address the prevention of non-communicable diseases (obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer) as a high health priority on the national agenda, with emphasis on modifiable risk factors.
• Increase awareness among policy makers, community, families and children, and advocate to ensure children health, including healthy diet and physical activity
• Promote multi-sectoral action with all stakeholders and relevant sectors, including community, families, children and relevant governmental and nongovernmental institutions.
• Support, contribute and participate in the development and implementation of a Regional Plan of Action (POA) on Diet and Physical Activity and Health (DPAS) to guide national action and to identify priorities for WHO's work in support of Member States.
• Undertake WHO STEPwise risk factor surveillance surveys to monitor risk factors, with emphasis on unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.
• Adopt and implement cost effective strategies identified in the Regional POA at national level to promote healthy diets and physical activity.
• Ensure legislative and regulatory options in support of healthy diet and physical activity, as appropriate
• Identify appropriate entry points for interventions involving community, primary health care, schools and worksites as appropriate, to promote healthy diets and physical activity.
• Develop and implement a mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the Plan of Action.
• Support and facilitate evidence-based research on diet and physical activity for health promotion and healthy lifestyle.
• Assure the collaboration of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to:
- Develop, review, implement and evaluate national guidelines for school health programs within the following WHO components of the health-promoting school initiative: Health education, physical education, physical environment, mental health and counseling, involvement of family and community, as well as health services and related personnel involved in health promotion.
- Assure that school meals comply with, at least, the minimum nutrition recommended daily allowance (RDA).
- Assure that school physical activity programs provide at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

At the Regional Level

World Health Organization

• Develop a Regional POA for DPAS, with milestones and monitoring indicators,
Leadership
Advocacy
Policy options
Surveillance
Capacity building
Research
• Coordinate the creation of a Regional multi-sectoral 'Task Force' for DPAS in consultation with Member States.
• Coordinate and support development of a Regional POA for DPAS
• Provide technical support related to Regional POA for DPAS to support implementation of multi-disciplinary programs, including but not limited to
Cost effectiveness
Best available practices
School based programs on diet and physical activity
Partnership development
Research priorities
Monitoring and evaluation framework

• Ensure linkage between Regional POA and National specific implementation plan
• Incorporate the main components of the global strategy on diet physical activity in relation to children's health in promoting school initiative which is adopted by most of the countries in the region.
• Organize a regional consultation in 2008 to review the draft regional plan with representatives of Member States, regional experts, and other stakeholders, prior to finalization.

UNICEF

Conduct awareness campaign in collaboration with WHO-EMRO on the rights of children to healthy life including healthy diet and proper physical activity.

Research Priorities: National and Regional Levels

• Collect prevalence data on risk factors of NCD among Arab children and adolescents.
• Identify cost-effective interventions to prevent obesity among Arab children.
• Identify barriers to implementation of diet and physical activities programs for Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education.

At the Media Level

Media should play a constant active role in

• Promote the health and wellbeing of children.
• Be a major partner in the awareness campaign to promote healthy lifestyle and wellbeing of children through capacity building of professional journalists and media members specialized in children and health issues.
• Develop, provide and disseminate attractive culturally appropriate health messages to children, parents and community.
• Monitor food and unhealthy entertainment advertisements targeting children and adolescents.