WORLD HEART FEDERATION AND SESAME WORKSHOP TEAM UP FOR HEALTHY HEARTS ON WORLD HEART DAY IN COLOMBIA

WORLD HEART FEDERATION AND SESAME WORKSHOP TEAM UP FOR HEALTHY HEARTS ON WORLD HEART DAY IN COLOMBIA

 

Bogota, Colombia; September 30, 2007 – Forty percent of the Colombian population is overweight or obese  , including nearly half of all women , and 13% are undernourished .  In response to these troubling statistics, the World Heart Federation and the Colombian Society of Cardiology have joined forces with Sesame Workshop’s Plaza Sésamo Healthy Habits for Life initiative to encourage children and families to adopt healthier heart habits.  To cheer on caregivers and the greater Colombian community, this year’s World Heart Day is themed “Team Up for Healthy Hearts.” 

Now in its eighth year, World Heart Day is driven by the World Heart Federation’s member organizations in over 100 countries, including Colombia, to raise awareness and encourage prevention of heart disease and stroke.  Today’s World Heart Day festivities kick-off at the Virgilio Barco Public Library in Bogota with an appearance from Lola, the beloved pink Muppet from Plaza Sésamo, and a preview of the original live-action films focused on heart-health that were produced throughout Colombia for inclusion in Plaza Sésamo.  The activities continue with a special reading of the Plaza Sésamo storybook, Muévete! (or, Shake a Leg!), a jump rope contest for children, an opportunity for children meet walkaround Elmo, and more, encouraging children to get up and move their bodies, learn about healthy foods, and practise all-around simple and fun habits that help lead to a long and healthy life.

Cardiovascular disease is Colombia’s largest killer, with heart disease and stroke accounting for over a third of adult deaths in the country.  Although previously a problem faced by the wealthy, heart disease and stroke have become a serious problem for the poor, with most related deaths occurring in low- or middle-income countries. 

Dr. Fernando Manzur, President of the Colombian Society of Cardiology states, "Overweight and obesity contribute to the risk of heart attack and stroke, and they are serious problems in Colombia today.  Rates of physical inactivity are high in Colombia, and with rapid urbanization, traditional diets rich in fresh fruits and vegetables are giving way to convenience foods high in fat and sugar.  This creates a ‘double burden’ of malnutrition, where under- and over- nutrition affect the same communities, and event the same families."  For example, while the World Health Organization recommends about 400g of fruit and vegetables daily, residents of Bogota, Colombia eat less than 100g.

However, heart disease and stroke are largely preventable if the main risk factors are reduced.  “Studies show that parents play a major role in helping children develop healthy lifestyles to reduce major risk factors for heart disease and stroke in later life” commented Dr. Valentin Fuster, Director, Heart Hospital and Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and former President of the World Heart Federation. “Children as young as ten reflect the health habits of their family, peers and social environment, and current research indicates that eating and exercise habits consolidate at this age and stay with children for life .  Therefore, on behalf of the World Heart Federation, we are proud to partner with Sesame Workshop’s Plaza Sésamo Healthy Habits for Life initiative to reach young children with basic, fun, and essential information about habits that, if practised regularly, will help prevent heart disease and stroke later in life.”

“Sesame Workshop has never turned away from the tough issues affecting children, and while the Plaza Sésamo curriculum has always included lessons on keeping one’s body healthy, it’s time for us to ramp up our efforts,” said Dana Kuperman, Country Director, Sesame Workshop.  “In Colombia, we are proud to partner with the World Heart Federation, and to work with their associates at the Colombian Society of Cardiology to encourage parents, schools, and other community groups to help children set healthy goals that are culturally appropriate.  By creating content specifically designed to reach those at this most impressionable age, we stand a better chance of encouraging children to develop healthy lifestyle practices that they can take with them – hopefully into a healthy, happy adulthood.”

Additional World Heart Day activities this year include health checks, organized walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals, and sports tournaments.  On September 21st, the Colombian Society of Cardiology celebrated with a drawing contest for children and a photography contest for adolescents and youth in Cali to encourage their creativity and reflection about healthy eating habits, physical activity and non smoking.  In addition, the city of Bogota has arranged a large network of bicycle roads for families to enjoy.  For more information about World Heart Day 2007 in Colombia, visit www.worldheartday.com. 

The World Heart Federation has a three-year partnership with Sesame Workshop, made possible through the generosity of philanthropists Julio Mario and Beatrice Santo Domingo, to reach Spanish speaking children and their families with important, age- and culturally- appropriate information about healthy heart habits and overall healthy lifestyles.  Most recently, the partnership produced live action, Muppet segments, and animated films in Colombia that will begin airing on Plaza Sésamo’s eleventh season which premieres on Discovery Kids in Colombia in April 2008. The segments feature Colombian children engaging in all kinds of fun and heart healthy activities including growing vegetables at home, folk dancing, choosing nutritious breakfasts and fruits and vegetables at an outdoor market.  In addition, the World Heart Federation and Sesame Workshop are currently working with three educational outreach partners, Sociedad Colombiana de Pediatria, Colsubsidio and Fundacion Cardio Infantil, to develop culturally appropriate content for outreach materials for children and their caregivers.  These materials are slated to launch early next year.

The World Heart Federation is a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva Switzerland dedicated to the prevention and control of heart disease and stroke, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.  It is comprised of 195 member societies of cardiology and heart foundations in the regions of Asia-Pacific, Europe, East Mediterranean, the Americas and Africa. For further information visit: www.world-heart-federation.org.

 Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street.  As the single largest informal educator of young children, local Sesame Street programs produced in countries as diverse as South Africa, Bangladesh and India are making a difference in over 120 nations.  Using proprietary research to create engaging and enriching content, Sesame Workshop produces programs such as Dragon Tales and Pinky Dinky Doo.  In addition, multimedia needs-driven initiatives provide families tools for addressing such issues as children’s health and emergency preparedness.   As a nonprofit, product proceeds and philanthropic support endow Sesame Workshop’s educational research and creative content for children around the world.  Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.

 

Press Contacts:

World Heart Federation    
Adriano Konialidias, Cohn & Wolfe  
+41 22 908 4077 
Adriano_Konialidis(at)ch.cohnwolfe.com  

Sesame Workshop  
Tatiana Lopez, Burson-Marsteller
+57 1 622 6500 x2317
tatiana_lopezmolina(at)bog.bm.com
 

 

On World Heart Day, the World Heart Federation recommends families and communities protect themselves from heart disease and stroke by:

 

1. Encouraging everyone to eat well-balanced meals, including (steamed, boiled, grilled or baked) lean meat, fish, vegetables, lentils, fruit and low fat products.
2. Providing at least five daily servings of vegetables and fruit.
3. Offering water, low fat milk or fresh, unsweetened fruit juices to drink rather than soft drinks.
4. Including fruit or vegetables in your children’s school lunch or snack. Convince your child’s friend’s parents to do likewise. Get their teacher’s support to put healthy eating on the classroom agenda.
5. Making sure you don’t consume excess salt, especially through processed foods.
6. Planning more family activities outside. Add 30 minutes of regular physical activity daily and build physical activity into day-to-day chores. Take the stairs rather than the lift, for instance.
7. Making your home smoke-free and try to ensure that your children don’t smoke or experience tobacco smoke anywhere else.
8. Limiting screen time. Keep the TV or computer off as much as possible and make sure your children’s leisure time is packed with plenty of physical activity. Why not go with your child to school by foot or bicycle.
9. As a family member, setting a good example by eating healthily, being physically active on a regular basis and by not smoking.
10. If you think anyone in the family is at risk of heart disease, check with your health professional.