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Promoting Health in the Americas

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Everyday Heroes: Health Workers

"Health workers, who have saved so many lives and will continue to do so, have accustomed us to so many deeds of valor that they have managed to make their extraordinary contributions commonplace. So much so that we run the risk of not thanking them enough for the work that they do every day."


more News and Releases »

Presentations Speeches On the Media
Cuba as World Leader in to medical attention according to PAHO

Cuba. Visita Oficial. Julio 28-31, 2008.- PAHO Director visited several health centers during her official visit to Cuba and pointed out that Cuba offers a wide variety of activities and services related to health, and is a founding member of PAHO, which was established 106 years ago, she also talked to the press about the work carried out by Cuba with respect to its aging population and said tha Cuba has met the needs identified several decades ago to train more healthcare professionals and provide more clinics in towns.
Media Release
[Spanish version]:Presentación de la Directora »
Resumen visita oficial de la Directora y cancelación sello postal en saludo al 60 aniversario de la OMS y el 30 aniversario de Alma Ata.
Newsletter »  More information

Pan American Alliance for Nutrition and Development

Washington, D.C. Julio 25, 2008.- Top United Nations experts on Latin America and the Caribbean agreed on the establishment of the Pan American Alliance for Nutrition and Development.
PAHO Director Roses noted that, despite overall improvements in nutritional status at the aggregate level in Latin America and the Caribbean, 52 million people in the region are still undernourished, and 9 million children under 5 are chronically malnourished. The Pan American Alliance for Nutrition and Development would promote better nutrition not just through food production and distribution but with a broad range of actions, ranging from safer cooking stoves and safe water to urban agriculture and sustainable use of natural resources.
PAHO Press Release: U.N. Experts Warn on New Threats to MDG Progress in Latin America and the Caribbean
[Spanish version: Director's Presentation
Director's Newsletter   More information

Director's Presentation to the OAS Permanent Council

Washington, D.C. June 19, 2008.- Briefing Session to the Permanent Ambassadors to the Organization of American States and others Estate Member’s Ambassadors.
Presentation
142nd Session of the Executive Committee Opens with Important Goals for the Health of the Peoples of the Americas   More information

Primary Health Care for the New Century

Geneva Health Forum 2008. 25 May 2008.- 'In the spirit of this Forum, and to successfully address the health determinants and affirm the right to health, I invite you to join me in building a multi-stakeholder coalition of interested parties, to ensure that a health system based on Primary Health Care represents a feasible and politically appealing policy option.' Speech delivered by Dr. Roses, PAHO's Director in the opening ceremony of the Health Forum 2008 that took place during the celebration of the 61st World Health Assembly.  More information

PAHO and UNICEF Working Together to support LAC Countries

PAHO Press Release. Washington, D.C., April 25, 2008.- Top officials and technical experts from UNICEF visited the Pan American Health Organization to discuss areas of joint collaboration including water and sanitation, nutrition, social support for mothers and children, work in health emergencies and risk communications focusing on pregnant women, children and adolescents.
Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, Director of PAHO and Dr. Nils Kastberg, Director of the UNICEF Regional Office shared the moral imperatives of helping excluded populations to address the unfinished agenda and accelerate progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Read more »
OPS XXI en acción. Dr. Mirta Roses' presentation at the opening of the meeting. [Spanish version]
PAHO - UNICEF: Comprometidos por la Salud
Poem written by Dr. Nils Kastberg, UNICEF's Director on the occasion of Dr. Roses inauguration ceremony on February 1st, 2008. [Spanish version]   More information

Globalization and injuries in the context of the Americas

Merida. Mexico. Marzo 15, 2008.- Director's presentation during the celebration of the 9th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion at the panel "Globalization and Injury", which had the participation of many ministers of health from the Americas.
Presentation »

See also: Declaracíón Ministerial sobre Prevención de Violencia y Lesiones en las Américas [Spanish version]  More information

Report of the Panamerican Health Organization to the permanent council of the OAS

Washington, D.C. March 12, 2008.- Dr. Roses delivered her presentation to OAS Permanent Council, briefing the PAHO health achievements and challenges from the last 5 years as an specialized health agency from the inter-american system.
Director's Presentation
Director's Speech Video [Spanish version]  More information

Partnership for Health Development

Geneva, Switzerland. November 12, 2007.- "The achievement of MDG related with health, is a crucial event to sustain the achievements of others MDGs and to improve life conditions of opulations. Partnerships for Health Development (PHDs) have a major role to play in this endeavour. Indeed, a key reason for establishing such partnerships and funds stemmed from global concern about the burden of disease pandemics, and the need to accelerate action substantially if global targets were to be achieved.  
A fundamental strategy of Partnerships for Health Development has been to work in new ways to expand effective collaboration – including promoting greater participation by civil society and the private sector - and increase access to resources to serve those in need".
Dr. Roses presentation at the Plenary session on Partnerships and WHO.
Partnerships for Health Development - Background Document
Three Day Policy Dialogue Agenda  More information

Strengthening information exchange to more effectively assist member countries with disaster response, says PAHO Director.

Washington, D.C. OAS HQ. September 24, 2007.- PAHO Director Mirta Roses Periago spoke about the organization’s role in the IACNDR and in emergency operations as well as collaborating with humanitarian organizations, underscoring the importance of strengthening information exchange to more effectively assist member countries with disaster response.  More information

Improving Health in the Americas. How Far We Come and How Far Do We Have to Go?

Bahía, Brazil. July 17, 2007.- Director's presentation at the UFBA (Federal University of Bahia) before the national authorities and foreign delegations, event that is part of the activities of Abrasco 2007.
Presentation. Improving Health in the Americas  More information

More Presentations »

Common Challenges, Joint Solutions

Washington, D.C. July 24, 2008.- Director's Article: ' ...The concept that common challenges demand joint solutions has prompted all the Directors for the Region of agencies in the United Nations system, under the coordination of the UNDP, to develop a joint work program ... coordination is critical to the success ... formulating a work plan to ensure that specific achievements are attained over the next two years ... the Pan American Partnership on Nutrition and Development directed toward finding collective solutions to the food crisis ... '   More information

First Things First

CHILD AND MATERNAL HEALTH. Director's BLOG article where she invites to the lecture of an Op-Ed article written by Bernardo Kliksberg, respected Adviser of the UNDP´s Regional Director for Latin American and the Caribbean, focused on childhood and maternal health.
Director's BLOG »   More information

Safe Surgery Saves Lives: a Pan-American Perspective

Washington, D.C. 25 June 2008.- 'PAHO participation on "Safe Surgery Saves Lives" is an important step to bring forward the patient safety agenda in the Americas'.
Dr. Mirta Roses, PAHO Director welcoming remarks at the Second Global Patient Safety Challenge: "SAFE SURGERY SAVES LIVES INITIATIVE".
See also: Director's Newsletter   More information

Primary Health Care: A New Vision for the Fourth Decade

Washington, D.C. May 30, 2008.- Director's speech at the special session on Primary Health Care at the Global Health Council Annual Conference 2008.
2008 mark the 30th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration. The principles of equitable access to affordable health care, using primary health care (PHC) as the tool to turn these principles into practice, remain as valid today as they did in 1978.   More information

Primary Health Care for the New Century

Geneva Health Forum 2008. 25 May 2008.- 'In the spirit of this Forum, and to successfully address the health determinants and affirm the right to health, I invite you to join me in building a multi-stakeholder coalition of interested parties, to ensure that a health system based on Primary Health Care represents a feasible and politically appealing policy option.' Speech delivered by Dr. Roses, PAHO's Director in the opening ceremony of the Health Forum 2008 that took place during the celebration of the 61st World Health Assembly.  More information

2008 World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Washington, D.C. May 1st., 2008.- Director's closing remarks at PAHO HQ Ceremony.
'Since the launch of the PAHO Workers' Health Regional Plan of Action in 1999, several milestones have been attained to help improve the lives and well-being of million of workers, their families, and communities in the Americas. Over the years, there has been an increase in awareness of the role and influence of our environment and workplace environment on our health. This has been possible through the advocacy and work of local, national, and international leaders in the field of occupational and environmental health. This day provides us with an opportunity to recognize the commitment of the global community that works towards a common goal: improving the health and safety of workers.'
Director's closing remarks »
Director's Newslettter - 2008 World Day for Safety and Health at Work »  More information

Vaccination: An Act of Love that Transcends Borders

Washington, D.C. Abril 23, 2008.- Article of the Director commemorating the VI Vaccination Week of the Americas published in several communications media of the Region.
The benefits of vaccination know no borders.
Vaccination is one of the most effective and efficient ways to put health within the reach of all. It combines individual well-being with family and social well-being: that of the rich with that of the poor; that of children with that of the elderly; that of citizens with that of foreigners; that of rural inhabitants with that of city dwellers; that of residents with that of migrants.  More information

PAHO and UNICEF Working Together to support LAC Countries

PAHO Press Release. Washington, D.C., April 25, 2008.- Top officials and technical experts from UNICEF visited the Pan American Health Organization to discuss areas of joint collaboration including water and sanitation, nutrition, social support for mothers and children, work in health emergencies and risk communications focusing on pregnant women, children and adolescents.
Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, Director of PAHO and Dr. Nils Kastberg, Director of the UNICEF Regional Office shared the moral imperatives of helping excluded populations to address the unfinished agenda and accelerate progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Read more »
OPS XXI en acción. Dr. Mirta Roses' presentation at the opening of the meeting. [Spanish version]
PAHO - UNICEF: Comprometidos por la Salud
Poem written by Dr. Nils Kastberg, UNICEF's Director on the occasion of Dr. Roses inauguration ceremony on February 1st, 2008. [Spanish version]   More information

A message from PAHO Director. 6th. Vaccination Week in the Americas.

19-26 April 2008.- "Vaccination Week in the Americas is an example and reminder of the best of Pan Americanism," said PAHO Director Dr. Mirta Roses. "We are consolidating a true participatory culture for prevention throughout the Americas."
Message »
Vaccination week in the Americas advances on goals  More information

TIME TO ACT: Protecting Health from Climate Change

Google News. April 11, 2008.- Google News asked Dr. Roses to write a special comment related to the theme of the World Health Day 2008 celebration: “Protecting Health from Climate Change”.
Global health put at risk by climate change. "The effect of climate change over health is neither a minor issue nor a theoretical possibility: it is already happening, here and now, and it is related to major public health problems.
You are also invited to comment at her BLog: Comment from Google News by Mirta Roses, Director, Pan American Health Organization »   More information

More Speeches »

PAHO's Director brings leadership and knowledge to the Americas

APHA. Washington, D.C. May, 2008.- The NATION'S HEALTH, the official newspaper of the American Public Health Association (APHA published this month an interview with Dr. Roses who was also elected as APHA's vice president for Latin America at the Association's 2007 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
The interview is published in the section Q&A with global health leader Mirta Roses Periago: Recognizing the 'interdependency' of this century   More information

Solidarity in combating the global food crisis

Director's article. May 21, 2008.- PAHO's Director calls upon international community in order to promote the solidarity and cooperation among the countries to contribute to the production and food sovereignty of our people, eradicating malnutrition, and to the development of common strategies that make it possible for us to advance toward our health achievements, related to environmental protection and poverty reduction, achieved within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals.  More information

Vaccination: An Act of Love that Transcends Borders

Washington, D.C. Abril 23, 2008.- Article of the Director commemorating the VI Vaccination Week of the Americas published in several communications media of the Region.
The benefits of vaccination know no borders.
Vaccination is one of the most effective and efficient ways to put health within the reach of all. It combines individual well-being with family and social well-being: that of the rich with that of the poor; that of children with that of the elderly; that of citizens with that of foreigners; that of rural inhabitants with that of city dwellers; that of residents with that of migrants.  More information

A message from PAHO Director. 6th. Vaccination Week in the Americas.

19-26 April 2008.- "Vaccination Week in the Americas is an example and reminder of the best of Pan Americanism," said PAHO Director Dr. Mirta Roses. "We are consolidating a true participatory culture for prevention throughout the Americas."
Message »
Vaccination week in the Americas advances on goals  More information

TIME TO ACT: Protecting Health from Climate Change

Google News. April 11, 2008.- Google News asked Dr. Roses to write a special comment related to the theme of the World Health Day 2008 celebration: “Protecting Health from Climate Change”.
Global health put at risk by climate change. "The effect of climate change over health is neither a minor issue nor a theoretical possibility: it is already happening, here and now, and it is related to major public health problems.
You are also invited to comment at her BLog: Comment from Google News by Mirta Roses, Director, Pan American Health Organization »   More information

Climate Change a Challenge to Human Species

April 7, 2008.- "One of the most well-known, a result of changes in the usual patterns of temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, etc., occurs in the distribution of diseases, as well as vectors, which generally are insects. These also modify, for example, the seasonal cycles that had prevented the dissemination of diseases. So new ones appear or others expand, such as respiratory illnesses, yellow fever, malaria or dengue, which now extends across the continent.
Climate change gives way to a higher frequency of phenomena like hurricanes and periods of drought followed by excessive rains, which especially affect the most vulnerable, the communities that live in high-risk zones and in poverty."
Dr. Roses interview with Tierramerica, a specialised news service of UNDP and UNEP.  More information

Climate Change and Health. World Health Day 2008.

Message from the Director. April 7, 2008.- Climate change is already affecting human health, and it's time to do something about it. A message from Dr. Mirta Roses, Director of the Pan American Health Organization.
Video Message   More information

An ACHIEVABLE DREAM: Eliminating some Diseases from the Region

"When envisioning the future of public health in the Americas, we can and should dare to dream of victories that greatly benefit all citizens and have a real impact on the human development levels of our peoples.
Eliminating certain illnesses or diseases that still afflict our peoples even though we possess the knowledge and tools with which to make them virtually disappear is one of those achievable dreams."   More information

OMS/OPS : nous sommes engagés à soutenir Haïti

13 février 2008.- En Haïti dans le cadre de la réunion annuelle des représentants de l'OPS/OMS de la Caraïbe, qui se tient pour la première fois en Haïti, la directrice régionale de l'OMS/OPS pour les Amériques, le docteur Mirta Roses, a déclaré : " nous sommes totalement engagés à soutenir Haïti afin qu'il progresse dans la réalisation des Objectifs du Millénaire pour le Développement ". Elle intervenait, en effet, au cours d'une conférence de presse tenue le 13 février à Port-au-Prince.   More information

PAHO and Argentine Government agree to assist countries of A. Latina, Caribbean, and Africa

Buenos Aires, Argentina. January 11, 2008.- The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) signs a memorandum of understanding with the Argentine Government to provide joint technical assistance in the area of health to Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. The agreement was signed in Buenos Aires by the Director of PAHO, Mirta Roses, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Taiana, with the purpose of "contributing to the economic and social development" of these regions "through the effective use of human, technical and financial resources" of both parties.
[Release only in Spanish version] Read more »  More information

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