In São Paulo, Brazil, The Green and Healthy Environments Program (PAVS, for its Portuguese acronym) was launched by the municipal government of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. It addressed environmental issues, such as clean water and sanitation, as part of health promotion activities. Its broad goal was to improve quality of life in the São Paulo municipality under the Programa Saúde da Família – PSF (Family Health Program). The PAVS initiative aimed to empower and build capacity through active community participation. PAVS strengthened intersectoral policy management at the local level. It provided training and skills-building opportunities to about 7,000 community health and social protection agents. Neighborhood, merchant and entrepreneurs’ associations participated in the program, along with environmental NGOs. These groups each played an important role in supporting and implementing program evaluations. Overall, the intersectoral and participatory approaches adopted by PAVS helped address health inequalities within the participating communities. The PAVS effort engaged many different partners. Several national and international entities were involved in its implementation, including the Ministry of Health of Brazil, PAHO/WHO, UNEP, University of São Paulo, FLACSO, FIOCRUZ, the Municipal Secretariats of Environment, Health, Social Assistance, and Development, and twelve partners from the Municipal Health Secretariat that participated in the National Family Health Program (PSF). PAVS’ Board of Directors, established in the first phase of the program, included representatives from several of these entities. The PAVS program was under the Municipal Health Secretariat, although many of its activities occurred in other relevant sectors (beyond the health sector). The proposal was originally drafted by the Municipal Green and Environment Secretariat (MGES) of the State of São Paulo between 2005 and 2006. The program was managed and funded primarily by the São Paulo City Council. The Municipal Parliament, the Municipal Secretariats of Health, Environment, Education, and Social Assistance all collaborated within the Family Health Program (PSF). The Secretary of Urban Infrastructure and Services (waste management and other utilities), as well as the sub-prefectures, also provided support for the program. Sources: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Health in All Policies: Case Studies from the Region of the Americas. Washington, D.C: PAHO; 2015. Pan American Health Organization. Health in All Policies: Summary of experiences from the Americas. The 8th Global Conference on Health Promotion; 2013 Jun 10-14; Helsinki (Finland).Washington, DC: PAHO; 2013 Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Health in All Policies in the Americas: Green and Healthy Environments Program in São Paulo (PAVS) [Internet]; 2016.
