Washington, D.C. PAHO HQ.
June 23-27, 2007.

The 142nd Session of the Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization is meeting this week at headquarters. During this period, the Executive Committee is comprised of the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Panama, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America and Uruguay. Other Member States attending the meeting as observers are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Paraguay and Venezuela.

Representatives of nongovernmental organizations attending the meeting include the Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, and the Latin American Association of Pharmaceutical Industries.

The Director of PAHO and Secretary ex officio of the Committee, Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, is co-chairing with Uruguay as Member State of the Executive Committee, accompanied by the Directors of Executive Management, Dr. Cristina Beato, Deputy Director; and Mr. Michael A. Boorstein, Director of Administration

Main Health Topics

More than 20 relevant public health strategies, projects and resolutions for the Region are under discussion. Public healht strategies in which PAHO plays a leadership role along with the Countries' Ministries of Health to improve the health of the people of the Americas:

CE142/9 - Population and Individual Approaches to the Prevention and Management of Diabetes and Obesity
CE142/10 - Regional Strategy and Plan of Action for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control
CE142/11 - Young Child Malnutrition in the Americas: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals
CE142/12 - Neonatal Health within the Continuum of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Care: Regional Strategy and Plan of Action
CE142/13 - Regional Strategy for Adolescent and Youth Health
CE142/14 - Health of Older Persons, including Active and Healthy Aging: Regional Strategy
CE142/15 - Plan of Action for Strengthening of Vital and Health Statistics
CE142/16 - Malaria: Progress Report
CE142/17 - Dengue: Progress Report
CE142/18 - Onchocerciasis: Progress Report
CE142/19 - Avian Flu and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Progress Report
CE142/20 - Blood Transfusion Safety: Progress Report
CE142/21 - International Health Regulations: Progress Report
CE142/22 - Strengthening of Essential Public Health Functions: Progress Report
CE142/23 - WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: Opportunities and Challenges for its Implementation in the Americas
CE142/24 - Integrated Vector Control: A Comprehensive Response to Vector-Borne Disease
CE142/25 - Health and International Relations: Linkages with National Health Development
CE142/26 - Update on Climate Change and its Impact on Public Health

Administrative and Financial Projects

The session opened with discussion of administrative projects of significance to the Organization: the Financial Report of the Director and Report of the External Auditor for 2006-2007; the Strategic Plan 2008-2012; and the Report of the Subcommittee on Program, Budget, and Administration among others.

On Monday, Dr. Roses welcomed the members of the Executive Committee assembled for the week and invited them to review and work together in the strategies and resolutions to be discussed, with the objective of collecting the recommendations and necessary modifications to be considered and included during the next celebration of the 48th Directing Council, 60th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Americas , next September, event that renews and establishes the commitments, priorities, and policies on Pan American public health.

The Executive Committee is composed of nine Member States of the Organization, elected by the Conference or the Council for overlapping periods of three years. The Committee, which meets twice a year, acts as a working party of the Conference or Council. Special meetings are convoked by the Director of the Bureau either on his/her own initiative or upon request of at least three Member States. The Committee has an auxiliary advisory body, the Subcommittee on Program, Budget, and Administration.

More information:
142th SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
142.a SESIÓN DEL COMITÉ EJECUTIVO
142a SESSÃO DO COMITÊ EXECUTIVO
142e SESSION DU COMITÉ EXÉCUTIF

For more information, please contact: Diaz, Eng. Katia (WDC), Director's Office Web Master.