MEDIA ADVISORY

AFRICA HEALTHY LIFE STYLE DAY

Theme: “Live Healthy, Prevent Diabetes”

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

When: Friday 26th February 2016

Time: 7:30 AM to 17:00 PM,

Where: African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Who: Organized by the Medical Service Directorate (MSD), African Union Commission (AUC)

Background: The last Friday of February each year was declared as Africa Healthy Lifestyle Day by Decision No. EX.CL.Dec.436 (XIII), of the Special Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health. This decision was adopted by the Executive Council in July 2008 in the framework of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Strategy for prevention and control of Non-communicable Diseases.

A healthy Lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people’s health and well-being. Adopting a healthy lifestyle involves regular physical activity or exercise, healthy eating habits, reducing stress, avoiding tobacco use and alcohol abuse. On the other hand, adopting unhealthy lifestyles results in metabolic changes that increase the risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high glucose (sugar) level in the blood resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. It is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the world, killing one person every 7 seconds. In addition, it is the fastest growing health problem reaching epidemic proportion leading to serious health complications including kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness and other nervous, heart and blood vessel complications, such as amputations (one million amputations every year). For the most part, Diabetes Mellitus is as a consequence of poor life style choices, lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, obesity and overweight. The Slogan for this year’s Africa Healthy lifestyle Day is Less Sugar. More Life; Diabetes Kills one Person Every 7 Seconds; and Change Today for Healthier Tomorrow.

Expected Outcomes:

· Increased awareness of adopting a healthy lifestyle within the AU community

· Increased awareness on routine screening for Diabetes Mellitus and other NCDs.

· Change attitudes and beliefs to adopt a healthy life style.

Participants: Primary participants will include AUC Staff, African member state Embassies staff, as well as their family members, while secondary participants would be the broader African population.

Journalists are invited to cover the Africa Healthy lifestyle Day scheduled for Friday 26th February 2016. A draft program of activities is attached.

For further information:

Dr. Naftal Kilenga, Head of Division, Medical Services /Email: Kilengan@africa-union.orgTel: +251-912032706 of the Medical Service Directorate, African Union Commission

Dr. Mary Tapgun, Head Division, Clinical Services/Email: Tapgunm@africa-union.orgTel: +251-922481559of the Medical Service Directorate, African Union Commission

Dr. Brook Tsehay, Email: BrookT@africa-union.org +251-9121220568of the Medical Service Directorate, African Union Commission

For media inquiries contact:

Esther Azaa Tankou | Ag. Director of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: Yamboue@african-union.org I Tel: +251 911361185

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Directorate of Information and Communication
Directorate of Information and Communication | Information and Communication | African Union Commission

Tel: +251-11-5517700 | Fax: | E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia