Minister with responsibility for Health and Human Services Hon. Porsha Stubbs -Smith will leave the island today June 5, 2013 for Aruba where she will attend the “The Third Pan-American Conference on Obesity, with Special Attention on Childhood Obesity” (PACO III).
PACO III is supported by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and aims to identify regional actions to prevent childhood obesity and promote regional cooperation on the prevention of childhood obesity in interested countries.
The meeting is expected to provide ministers and delegates with an increase awareness of the importance of preventing childhood obesity as well as a compilation of technical documents on practical activities to promote physical activity and healthy food.
During the meeting will run from June 5 to 8, and cover the following:
· The development of partnerships to conduct activities with communities and families
· Procedures to conduct physical activity and for food culture at the population level.
· Identification of indicators to evaluate the training / intervention
· Development of healthy environments in the community, schools, and workplaces.
One of the objectives of this meeting is to increase well qualified human resources and health educators to prevent childhood obesity in countries participating in this project.
Minister Stubbs -Smith will be accompanied by TCIG Epidemiologist Dr. Terese Maitland. The Minister will return to the TCI on June 9.
