Join Us for Wellness Week 2025: Collaborating to Build a Healthier Future Together!

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has been promoting Wellness Week of the Americas since 2011. This initiative encourages a holistic approach to health in our communities. In 2025, Wellness Week will take place from September 13 to 19, with a special event kicking off on September 15.

Focus for 2025

The theme for 2025 is “Intersectoral Work and Health in All Policies.” The slogan for this year is “Building Health and Well-being Together.” This highlights the importance of collaboration across different sectors. By working together, we can tackle living conditions that affect our health.

Intersectorality means that various sectors join forces to design and evaluate health actions. This collaboration can improve situations like housing, access to parks, transportation, and sanitation, which all impact health and contribute to inequities.

The factors that shape our health are known as social determinants. Addressing these requires joint efforts, benefiting not just health but overall well-being.

PAHO’s Approach

Recognizing the need for intersectoral collaboration, PAHO established the Intersectoral Work and Social Participation Network for Health Equity in the Americas in 2023. This network includes over 50 institutions from more than 13 countries, aimed at sharing experiences and improving strategies to reduce health inequities.

To enhance skills in both health and other sectors, PAHO offers virtual courses on intersectorality. Local governments play a vital role in implementing public policies that support health and well-being, contributing to the Healthy Municipalities, Cities, and Communities Movement (MCCS), which has over 3,800 participating cities.

PAHO is also developing a framework to better monitor and evaluate intersectoral initiatives. This will help countries assess their efforts to improve health outcomes and ensure equity.

Participation Details

• Date: Monday, September 15, 2025
• Where: Virtual event on Zoom
• Languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese

You can register for the event here.

Expert Insight

Dr. Patricia Castillo, who leads the TIPSESA Network, emphasizes the need for intersectoral collaboration. “Health isn’t just about healthcare; it’s about making sure all parts of society work together for the well-being of everyone,” she says. Recent surveys show that communities with strong intersectoral ties report better health outcomes.

Conclusion

Wellness Week of the Americas serves as a reminder that health involves more than just medical care. It’s about creating environments where everyone can thrive. Let’s build a healthier future together.

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