News from PAHO http://www.paho.org/ The latest public health news from the Pan American Health Organization. en-us Copyright 2005 PAHO/WHO. All Rights Reserved. Caribbean public health authorities propose to eliminate vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis by 2015http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080807b.htmPublic health authorities, HIV and Maternal and Child Health experts concluded that it is feasible to eliminate the vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis in the Caribbean by 2015.PAHO: We can avoid the extinction of another endangered heritagehttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080807.htmThe commemoration of International Day of Indigenous Peoples 2008 on August 9, which PAHO joins in full support, always serves as a reminder of all historical vicissitudes that those groups have undergone throughout centuries.PAHO praises Brazil for passing new legislation on alcohol and drivinghttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080731.htmOn behalf of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Director, Dr. Mirta Roses, praised Brazil and congratulated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for recently promulgated legislation on driving and alcohol that sets an example and represents a true model for the Americas to follow with regards to road safety and the prevention of deaths and injuries in the hemisphere.Mother Support Maximizes Life-saving Benefits of Breastfeedinghttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080731a.htmExclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life is the best and most cost-effective intervention to provide newborns with the nutrients they need, and to improve infant and children survival rates.UN: Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean should improve, expand sexuality educationhttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080731c.htmCountries in Latin America and the Caribbean should improve and expand sexuality education programmes in order to prevent HIV and AIDS and reduce the impact of the epidemic in the region, a group of United Nations agencies said today.U.N. Experts Warn on New Threats to MDG Progress in Latin America and the Caribbeanhttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080725.htmTop United Nations experts on Latin America and the Caribbean warned this week that global economic shocks could throw some 16 million people of the Americas into extreme poverty, threatening important gains toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the region.Medical Professionals Worldwide Endorse WHO Checklist for Safer Surgeryhttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080626.htmA new safety checklist for surgical procedures developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) won the endorsements of nearly 250 health organizations from over 40 countries at a launching event yesterday at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington, D.C.PAHO Launches "Safe Surgery Saves Lives" - 2nd WHO Global Patient Safety Challengehttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080620.htmThe World Health Organization (WHO) will launch its new global initiative "Safe Surgery Saves Lives," aimed at improving the safety of surgery in countries around the world, on June 25, 2008, 11:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., at PAHO headquarters in Washington, D.C. Ministerial summit on HIV shows high level of commitment, says PAHOhttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080620a.htmThe Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) welcomes the initiative of ministers of health and education of Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss strategies to strengthen HIV prevention among young people. The ministers will meet in Mexico City on August 1, before the inauguration of the XVII International AIDS Conference.World No Tobacco Day 2008 Observed with Awards in the Americashttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080530.htmWorld No Tobacco Day is being observed May 31 with a focus on tobacco marketing, and awards in recognition of outstanding contributions to tobacco control. The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments to protect the world's 1.8 billion young people by imposing a ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.