Voices of the NPAP
Saleia
Afele-Faamuli, PhD, MPH
National Program Leader
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), USDA
Which of the 8 Sectors
are you involved in and why did you choose that particular
sector?
I identify with the Public Health Sector due to the thrust
of my 30+ years of work experience in promoting overall
community health and well-being through nutrition education and
physical activity. I've been in the land grant system for 30
years including the last 9 years in NIFA. NIFA works primarily
with Land Grant institutions in the nation to support research,
education, and extension in food and agricultural sciences and
related fields. I began at the University of Hawaii Manoa Campus
before moving to American Samoa Community College to institute
EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) and assist
in developing the Land Grant Program in 1982. Right from the
start I promoted and integrated nutrition and physical activity
in classroom and community curricula for all age groups. These
important sciences must go hand in hand. And the Land Grant
system has it!
What's most
exciting to you about the U.S. having a National Physical
Activity Plan?
Similar to the USDA Dietary Guidelines, the federal
government has released the comprehensive Physical Activity
Guidelines for Americans. This is exciting! We have arrived!
Nutrition and physical activity partnership is a must for
all Americans! Making daily healthy food choices is just as
important as making daily physical activity moves and
strides. As research shows, the combined nutrition and
physical activity effort would certainly improve health and
bring down substantial spending on obesity and
obesity-related diseases. And yes, the success of the
National Physical Activity Plan will be observed if it is
operated by a diverse partnership of government, schools
K-12 and higher, community organizations, churches,
non-profits, health, nutrition and physical activity
professionals, etc. collaborating and working together.
Engaging everyone in the “village” on this important plan is
a successful start.
What will success
of the NPAP look like to you in 3 years, 5 years? 10 years?
In 3 years, recruitment of all the partners is
completed/continued; assessment of existing national and
international plans for lessons learned for practical and
applicable community intervention plans continue; active
promotion and advertising of forthcoming plan.
National/state/local politicians and Plan leaders are
empowered, supportive, and taking the lead in physical
activity in their respective communities. In 5 years,
80-100% have at least heard about NPAP and 50% actually
doing some physical activity daily. In 10 years, 100% know
what NPAP is and 80-100% are physically active at least 3-5
times a week, spurts of 10min physical activity routines
non-stop, 30-45mins physical activity regimen non-stop.
