Different instances in our society, be it school counseling, individual psychotherapy, remedial action by law enforcement, or any other group, usually action is implemented too late and with little effectiveness. It is time to promote health through schools and to strengthen health-promoting schools. The World Health Organization's Health Promoting Schools Initiative fosters partnerships at the local, national and international level to create a healthy setting for living, learning and working in schools. In the Americas the Pan American Health Organization provides technical cooperation to all Member Countries for the implementation of this Initiative. Violence Prevention is an important part of a Health Promoting School and as such the Initiative has a document designed as a starting point for members of the school community, teachers, students, parents, and others with concrete steps that schools can take without major resources, in order to prevent violence.
Violence affects everyone.
It undermines the health, learning potential, social and economic wellbeing of people everywhere. Let us join forces to eradicate measles from the Americas. In 1994 all countries in the Americas established the goal to eradicate measles by the year 2000. In 1996, there were only 2,109 cases in the Region, the lowest number ever. However, in 1997, there was a re-emergence of the disease in Brazil, which spread to several other countries.