Univision launches “Semana de la Salud”

Univision Communications Inc. announced its second annual “Semana de la Salud” (Health Week), a weeklong multiplatform event under the health umbrella of the Company’s Univision Contigo empowerment initiative. “Semana de la Salud 2014,” taking place between August 23-30, aims to inform the U.S. Hispanic community about important health and wellness topics, give access to exclusive health-related online and mobile tools, and empower the community by providing free health screenings and other valuable resources in markets across the nation.
 
“Through Univision Contigo we endeavor to give our community the information, access and tools they need to make improvements in important aspects of their lives including health and wellness,” said Roberto Llamas, executive vice president of Human Resources & Community Empowerment for Univision Communications Inc. “Semana de la Salud complements our ongoing health awareness programs and will be a comprehensive campaign that utilizes all of our media assets, programs and talent to deliver the health and wellness information most important to Hispanic America.”
 
During Health Week 2014, a wealth of special health-themed content will be featured across the Univision Network’s news and entertainment programs, including “Al Punto” (To The Point), “República Deportiva” (Sports Republic), “Despierta América” (Wake Up America), “Hoy” (Today), “El Gordo y La Flaca” (The Scoop and the Skinny), “Primer Impacto” (First Impact), “Noticiero Univision” (Network Newscast), “Aquí y Ahora” (Here and Now), “Sábado Gigante” (Giant Saturday), and “Cita con tu Salud” (Appointment with your Health), among others. Dozens of health related stories and segments will air throughout the week, covering a wide variety of topics such as nutrition and wellness; living with heart disease and cancer; immunizations; teen pregnancy; women’s health and reproductive issues; obesity; dental health; the rise in juvenile diabetes; updates on the Affordable Care Act, and many more. Expanded health content will also be available online at Univision.com/Salud all week.
 
First Lady Michelle Obama will bring Hispanic America a special message as part of the weeklong activities on Monday, August 25 on “Despierta América,” encouraging viewers to take steps towards a healthy lifestyle.
 
“Semana de la Salud 2014” will also introduce Univision Contigo’s first-ever nationwide Health Tour, titled “Camino a la Salud” (The Road to Health), featuring local health fairs with free health screenings, fitness activities, nutritious food demonstrations and other health related offerings, in addition to a town hall meeting focusing on women’s health that will be streamed live on Univision.com/Salud. Thousands are expected to attend the events, which will feature Dr. Juan Rivera, Univision News’ chief medical correspondent; Cecilia Ramírez-Harris, health reporter for Univision’s “Primer Impacto” newsmagazine; Dr. Isabel Gomez-Bassols of Univision America’s popular “Doctora Isabel” national radio program; and “Despierta America’s” Ximena Córdoba and Orlando Segura,  among other talent from Univision’s popular national and local properties. Health Tour attendees can also register for Univision’s discount pharmacy program, Univision Farmacia, which offers users valuable savings on many prescription medications.  “Camino a la Salud” will make stops in markets across the country as follows:
 
Saturday, August 23: Los Angeles, CA and Sacramento, CA
Sunday, August 24:  Fresno, CA
Monday, August 25:  San Jose, CA                          
Tuesday, August 26: Phoenix, AZ and San Juan, Puerto Rico
Wednesday, August 27: Chicago, IL
Thursday, August 28: Miami, FL
Friday, August 29: New York, NY (Town Hall)
Saturday, August 30: Houston, TX
 
On the digital front, Univision Contigo is providing Hispanic Americans with direct access to online tools to help raise their health quotient and promote wellness, including “¿Cuál Es Tu Número?” (What’s Your Number?), created by Dr. Juan Rivera and the Univision News Health Unit. “¿Cuál Es Tu Número?” is available on UnivisionContigo.com, and on Univision.com/Salud. By answering a series of basic questions about their lifestyles – including nutrition, sleep, exercise, and stress levels – users receive a score between 1 and 10, which gives them a sense of their overall state of health. They also receive tips on how to make improvements in certain areas. Since its launch in November 2013, the tool has been used more than 155,000 times, providing access to critical information about how to lead a healthy life. During Health Week 2014, Dr. Rivera will appear in several Univision programs across platforms to explain how the tool works and how users can benefit from it.
 
“Keeping our audiences well informed about crucial health issues and providing them with practical tools that can help them improve their overall health is my personal mission at Univision, and I am proud that it is such a high priority for our Company,” stated Dr. Rivera. “For me it was important to participate in this effort and it is encouraging to see this powerful initiative become bigger and better every year.”
 
Programming for “Semana de la Salud 2014” will also have a prominent presence in local Univision television stations across the country, with health-related stories airing in local newscasts and public affairs shows from August 23 through August 30, as well as featuring live reports from the various health fairs taking place in their communities.
 
In addition, special health segments will be broadcast in all Univision America radio shows, including “Maria Marín Live,” “Zona Política with Helen Aguirre,” “El Show de la Doctora Isabel” and “De Costa a Costa.” Dr. Juan Rivera will be interviewed about the Health Tour events on WAQI-AM and “El Show de Enrique Santos.”
 
For the first time ever, Univision Contigo will introduce free weekly health text alerts offering subscribers helpful tips and videos delivered directly to their mobile phones, providing them with advice on how they can improve their health. To subscribe to the alerts, simply text SALUD to 26262.
 
Grants from The California Endowment, the Ford Foundation and Covered California are helping to support Univision’s production of “Semana de la Salud 2014.”
 
Univision Contigo is an initiative created to serve and empower the 56 million Hispanics in the United States. Building on the Company’s 50 year relationship of service and engagement with the Hispanic community, Univision Contigo further enhances and focuses UCI’s efforts in four key areas – education, health, prosperity and participation.