AFPAN website

African Physical Activity Network

Vision of AFPAN

The vision of the African Physical Activity Network (AFPAN) is to establish open communication links between most, if not all, physical activity advocates, practitioners, policy makers and inter-sectoral partners throughout Africa and to provide member organisations with a platform to build global contacts.

It is envisaged that through the sharing of experiences, we can strengthen existing initiatives, and apply the lessons learned to growing the influence of physical activity as an important indicator of a health individual and a healthy society. We remain optimistic that the African continent may still have the opportunity to primordially prevent the global risk factor, inactivity.

About AFPAN

At present, the African Physical Activity Network is the functioning African ‘arm’ for the Global Advocacy for Physical Activity (GAPA, www.globalpa.org.uk). GAPA represents the advocacy council for the International Society for Physical Activity and Public Health. Furthermore, AFPAN participates actively in the Agita Mundo network, which is the global alliance for physical activity and health (www.agitmundo.org).

AFPAN was initiated as a response to a mandate created by delegates attending the first CDC-IUHPE International Course on Physical Activity and Health in Africa, in March 2007. The recognition of physical activity/inactivity as a major risk factor for chronic, non-communicable diseases began even in earlier. In 2002, the 55^th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization passed a resolution in which they recommended that a day be set aside annually to recognise and celebrate “Move for Health”. This was followed by the development and publication of the Global Strategy for Diet and Physical Activity and Health in May 2004.

Subsequent to these steps, the World health Organization and its partners and member-states have participated in a variety of consultations leading to useful publications, strategies and a toolbox for implementation of this strategy (www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/implementation.toolbox).

The AFPAN network is the youngest physical activity network. Other physical activity and health networks include:

RAFA/PANA of the Americas region

HEPA-Europe

AP-PAN of the Asia Pacific region and

AFPAN of the African region

Interim Structure

As per the mandate from the 2007 meeting, AFPAN is coordinated by a secretariat which is currently located at the UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM), Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, at the University of Cape Town.

Its functions include membership registration, AFPAN website development and maintenance, coordination of network activities and events (e.g. conferences, seminars, workshops, teleconferences) and support of communications between AFPAN members.

The ESSM department houses various researchers ranging from public health, genetics, neuromuscular physiology and molecular biology. Public health research within the department focuses mainly on identifying models of best practice for physical activity specifically for the African continent and is spearheaded by Professor Vicki Lambert, Dr Tracy Kolbe-Alexander and Dr Cathi Draper. These models are targeting physical activity and inactivity in various settings and communities, with a view to impacting on the prevalence of chronic, non-communicable diseases in Africa.

Secretariat Address:

AFPAN Network

c/o Matthew April

UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine

PO Box 115 Newlands

Cape Town, South Africa

7725

E-Mail: mapril@ssisa.com

AFPAN Objectives

To share experiences and to provide a platform for new projects to introduce themselves.
Strengthen existing initiatives and also lead to models of best practice specifically for our continent.
Furthermore, the network will serve as a source of information for conferences and meetings and also global developments in physical activity and public health.

Network Activities

Since the allocation of resources to build infrastructure for the network in April 2010, we have published a newsletter in which we reminded existing members of our aims and rationale. The newsletter is also being used to promote the network by creating a ‘snowball’ effect in which existing members encourage other programmes to join.

The newsletters will be published quarterly and we welcome input from members.

So far we have released four issues of the newsletter. These can be downloaded using the links below:

We have also been observing physical activity policies in various countries as well as trying to bolster the network by seeking out more physical activity and health promotion programmes. The network has been actively trying to build relationships with physical activity practitioners and policy makers across Africa.

We plan to have annual meetings where members can share their experiences and build relationships with one another. Member organisations will be encouraged to host these meetings which will also be used to discuss new advances in the field of physical activity and public health from an African perspective.

The first of the these meetings was held on the 16th - 18th November, in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of the 2010, East Africa University Pre-Games Symposium on Promoting Regional Integration and Development through Sports at Kenyatta University. AFPAN hosted a talk which was presented by Dr. Vincent Onywera, from Kenyatta University and will be holding a social function to meet and greet one another.

Please feel free to download the following content which was presented at the 2010 Agita Mundo Network meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Generating ‘practice-based’ evidence in South Africa: evaluating community-based physical activity and sport programmes by Dr Cathi Draper

Physical activity and public health in Africa: A review of the problem and strategies for primordial prevention of non communicable diseases by Matthew April

In addition, you can also download the South African and Kenyan report cards. Both assess several areas which impact on the lifestyle of young children in their respective countries.

2010 Healthy Active Kids South African Report Card

Kenya's 2011 Report Card on the Physical Activity and Body Weight of Children and Youth

We would also like to encourage you to support the Toronto Charter for physical activity which aims to promote greater social and political support for physical activity. You can do so by visiting www.globalpa.org.uk/charter/register.php.

Investments that Work for Physical Activity is a document released in support of the Toronto Charter and it identifies 7 best investments for physical activity which are supported by good evidence and have been shown to have worldwide applicability. The document can be downloaded from the link below.

Non Communicable Disease Prevention: Investments that Work for Physical Activity

Physical Activity Surveillance

Monitoring of physical activity levels is currently being carried out in various African countries. Physical inactivity plays a major role in the prevalence of chronic, non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, throughout the continent. This, coupled with the high prevalence of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria has led to these many countries suffering a double burden of disease.

In this section we present levels of physical activity/inactivity across Africa taken from various published studies and surveys, as part of ‘making the case’.

Physical inactivity prevalence data among adults were taken from a 51- country survey measuring worldwide variability in physical inactivity (Guthold et al, 2008). Findings for the 18 African countries that were assessed in this study are illustrated in the map. (The grey-shaded areas represent countries for which there is no physical activity surveillance data).

The maps illustrated below provide a graphical overview of the levels of physical inactivity across Africa. This is a ‘live’ illustration that will be updated as we receive more data. If you have any data or manuscripts regarding physical activity/inactivity surveillance in Africa please feel free to forward it to the network and the map will be updated.

Physical inactivity prevalence for men (Guthold et al., AJPM 34: 2008)

Physical inactivity prevalence for women (Guthold et al., AJPM 34: 2008)

Physical Activity and Non Communicable Disease (NCD) Policies

Numerous African countries have such policies in place that promote physical activity and aim to lower the prevalence of chronic, non-communicable disease. Examples of such countries are South Africa and Botswana. Information has been attained through policy documents, telephonic interviews or e-mail contact with a public health custodian in the relevant country. Alternative methods are currently being investigated to extract information more efficiently.

While information gathered thus far, by the African Physical Activity Network team identifies several countries that are implementing these policies, there are many other countries who are yet to be investigated or for whom policy strategies are vague. This project will be implemented systematically in 2011, in conjunction with members of the HEPA-Europe network, and GAPA.

If you have further information regarding physical activity and non- communicable disease policies in Africa, Please forward the relevant information to mapril@ssisa.com. You will be recognised for your contribution and invited to participate in any final editing of the document which is being prepared.

Examples of physical activity policies include physical education in school curriculums in various African countries such as Nigeria and Zambia.

In South Africa, steps taken by its government to improve road safety among cyclists and pedestrians is also seen as a method to promote physical activity.

In Cameroon, a team of NCD researchers in collaboration with the World Diabetes Foundation and the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health initiated the Cameroon Burden of Diabetes (CAMBoD) project. The CAMBoD project established a programme of surveillance, prevention and control of diabetes and other chronic diseases and played a major role in lowering the cost of diabetes related products across Cameroon.

Physical Activity Programmes, Evaluation and Monitoring: Best Practice

There are many organisations that implement sport and NCD prevention programmes using physical activity as a tool to promote healthier lifestyles, as well as social development. Most programmes are targeted at communities stricken by poverty and high levels of crime and use sport as a means to develop social skills among young children and teenagers.

Sport is used to promote peace in countries that have history of civil war as well as gender equality in Northern Africa.

In summary, there are few physical activity programs that have been identified by AFPAN that aim to reduce risks of NCDs.

Below is a list of selected current and prospective member organisations associated with AFPAN. We hope to grow this list through our communication with members and prospective member organizations.

Community Health Intervention Programmes (CHIPs)

CHIPs is a community based programme in Cape Town, South Africa which was founded in 1997 in response to the high prevalence of non communicable diseases in low-middle income areas in the city. It runs 5 programmes each of which uses the ‘train the trainer model’ where community leaders and volunteers are taught the theory behind non communicable diseases and safe exercises as well as the practical application of exercise classes within the community setting. Its primary aim is to lower the prevalence of obesity and non communicable disease through the promotion of physical activity and healthy lifestyle.

For more information visit www.ssisa.com/ochips.asp

MySA

MYSA is a self help youth programme linking sports with environmental cleanups, AIDS prevention, leadership training and other community service activities involving approximately twenty thousand young people. Started in 1987 as a small self help project to organize sports and environmental cleanups within Mathare slums in Nairobi, the organization has grown into a renowned youth serving organization that promotes sports for development

For more information visit

JAG

JAG aims to use sport and education to give young people the opportunity to achieve their potential and enhance social well being.

Within the JAG foundation there is a school-based programme called Mighty Metres, which has implemented physical activity through empowering classroom teachers in more than 38,000 primary school learners in the Western and Eastern Cape, and has proved to be sustainable over two-year period.

For more information visit www.jagfoundation.org.za/index.aspx

Sporting Chance

Sporting Chance has been dedicated to coaching and promoting sport for seventeen years. Its prime objective throughout this time has been to provide opportunities for sporting achievement for children irrespective of race, gender or social class by offering professional coaching at schools and sports clubs. As it is during the formative years that the foundation for sports playing ability is laid, Sporting Chance has advocated and implemented various programmes for coaching school-age children.

For more information visit www.sportingchance.co.za

Grassroots Soccer

Grassroots Soccer aims to use soccer to promote life-skills and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among the African youth.

For more information visit www.grassrootsoccer.org

Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN)

The BEN aims to alleviate poverty through the promotion of the use of the bicycle, in all of its forms, in order to enhance low-cost non-motorised transport, and improve health through linking exercise and mobility. In collaboration with local and international partners, BEN facilitates the transportation of bicycles from Europe, the Americas and Asia to Southern Africa; the establishment of bicycle workshop projects; distribution of these bicycles to strategically selected groups of recipients; and the planning and introduction of bicycle user paths and integrated linking networks.

For more information visit http://www.benbikes.org.za

Become a member of AFPAN

If you are not currently a member of AFPAN and would like more information on our terms of reference, our misson and aim, or to join our network, we welcome you! Please feel free to contact m april@ssisa.com and Matthew will send you details. Also, please find below a presentation which you may find helpful in promoting the physical activity network to your colleagues.

African Physical Activity Network presentation by Dr Cathi Draper

If you have any questions, please contact Professor Estelle Lambert at 27-21-6504571 of v icki.lambert@uct.ac.za