New approach to promoting physical activity moves cycling and walking to head of the pack. WHO launched a process developing a new Global Action Plan for the promotion of Physical Activity (#GAPPA). ECF was invited to contribute our expertise, and joined experts from around the world in Geneva in mid-July.

“GAPPA puts the full power of cycling and walking for transport into the headlines – or into top gear you might say” said Dr Randy Rzewnicki, the ECF Health Policy Officer who supported the process. “We are very happy that WHO sees the contribution that cycling and walking make to preventing NCDs (non-communicable diseases), and the tremendous potential that can be tapped in to. The ECF’s recent experiences with the development ot the EUCS were valuable input supporting the goals and the process WHO proposed,” said Rzewnicki referring to the EU Cycling Strategy presented to Violetta Bulc of DG MOVE at the European Commission.

“This new global action plan (GAPPA) 2018 – is the how and what, and the New PA Toolkit 2018 will be the “how to do it” said Dr Fiona Bull the Coordinator of NCD prevention at WHO HQ who lead the experts. “We take a population based approach. Look at levers for public policy, for cycling, walking…. We are the lead agency for providing global norms and standards. We are building capacity in and out of the health sector.”

“Annually there are 15 million preventable deaths related to insufficient levels or total lack of physical activity.” said Rzewnicki. 15% are in “first” world. The GAPPA deals with the global need, and cycling is being showcased at the time when it can make a real difference. 

 “… progress on reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is significantly off track, and the target to reduce physical inactivity, a key risk factor for NCDs, is far from being achieved. With physical inactivity a rising global concern from Europe, North and South America, to Asia, Australasia and increasingly Africa, the development of a new Global Action Plan should be welcomed by physical activity advocates, practitioners, policy makers and scientists everywhere. The Global Action Plan is a new opportunity to enable a step change in the approach to using evidence-based policy across geographies, environments and communities and different populations.” [1] 

 NB: Most of these experts attended the recent consultation at WHO HQ where ECF presented its work on the EUCS as part of contributions to the GAPPA.

The draft action plan is now live on the website. 

The document and further information on the consultation process can be found at: http://www.who.int/ncds/governance/physical_activity_plan/en/

Consultation will be open until 22 September 2017. Member States, UN organizations and non-State actors are invited to submit their comments by email to gappa@who.int.

All contributions received will be published on this website.

[1] Excerpt from a recent editorial in the British Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine by Charlie Foster, Trevor Shilton, Lucy Westerman, Justin Varney, Fiona Bull, http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2017/07/19/bjsports-2017-098070