" ... La mejoría de la salud materna, neonatal e infantil ha dejado de ser un mero objeto de consideraciones técnicas y se ha convertido en un imperativo ético y político. Esto se debe a que, a pesar de los avances impresionantes en la reducción de la mortalidad materna e infantil desde los años '50, la inequidad entre países y entre distintos grupos de población al interior de los países -especialmente la brecha entre ricos y pobres - ha aumentado en los últimos veinte años, produciendo un estancamiento y, en algunos casos, un retroceso en el progreso logrado en las condiciones de salud de estas poblaciones

La Organización Panamericana de la Salud otorga una acta prioridad a la cooperación técnica con los países conducente a la reducción de la mortalidad materna, neonatal e infantil y a la eliminación de la exclusión en salud a través de la extensión de protección social en salud

Esta publicación propone un marco conceptual y analítico para avanzar en esta dirección. OPS/OMS pone hoy estas herramientas al servicio de los países, esperando que este esfuerzo contribuya al propósito de extender la protección social en salud a todas las madres, recién nacidos y niños de la región ..."

Ceremonia de apertura: Palabras de la Directora »

Español: Esquemas de Protección Social para la Población Materna, Neonatal e Infantil: lecciones aprendidas de la Región de America Latina »

English: Social Protection in Health Schemes for Mother, Newborn and Child Populations: Lessons Learned from the Latin American Region »

" ... This is a Corporate Initiative for PAHO - IPSAS supports and enhances objectives of Results Based Management. Furthermore, it ensures transparency in financial budgeting, accounting and reporting, and provides opportunities for comparability among and between international organizations ..."

Director's talking points »

" ... I am delighted to have the opportunity to welcome you all here to think with us on how best to help the women whose scientific efforts provides an underpinning of all that we do ... women in Latin America do not enjoy the same social status as men. Gender equality is a goal yet to be achieved ... the current trend of the rates of HIV infections in women and girls across Latin America, particularly in Caribbean countries, is alarming, Women aged between 15 and 24 account for 45 percent of all HIV infections among adults globally ...

I challenge you to think with us on how we could adapt the capacity building program for women researchers and use it to empower women working on AIDS, and women working on environmental health issues so they can take their place among the thinkers and change agents for a healthier world ..."

Director's opening speech »

La Directora de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud, Dra. Mirta Roses Periago, lamentó hoy en Washington, D.C. que en los países de las Américas todavía siguen habiendo demasiadas barreras para la donación de sangre. Los donantes se encuentran con demasiadas barreras en la sociedad para la entrega altruista de sangre. Ello, matizó, a pesar de que la misión sanitaria de los sistemas de salud de los países demanda en forma crítica y creciente de este producto para la consecución de la máxima eficacia en su ejercicio.

Nota de prensa de la OPS: En las Américas sigue habiendo demasiadas barreras para la donación de sangre »

" ... The satellite session held on Sunday regarding achievement of Universal Access in the Caribbean and current realities clearly highlighted the potential of the region to make rapid progress towards the Universal Access goal. On the other hand, the need to ensure comprehensive quality care to pregnant women and their infants to sustain achievements on prevention of vertical transmission of HIV was identified as a must.

Along with HIV, syphilis, a neglected STI, is also a major public health problem in the region. As HIV, syphilis affects pregnant women and their newborns. While some countries have made significant progress in reduction of congenital syphilis, we must conclude unfortunately that, 13 years after the adoption of the Plan of Action for the elimination of congenital syphilis as a public health problem in the Americas, only few countries may have reached the target."
Dr. Roses address as keynote speaker »

PAHO Director co-chair the special session on HIV for Latin America region with Carlos Passarelli, Deputy Director of the Brazilian National AIDS Programme and Director of the International Center for Technical Cooperation on HIV/AIDS. The session focused the discussion about the actions taken in the Latin American region since the FORO and CONCASIDA 2007 and what has to be done to establish formal links between regional conferences and International AIDS conferences.
Read more »

"... preventing new infections is key to halting the HIV pandemic ... over 55,000 children under the age of 15 and 400,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 18 were living with HIV in 2007 ... only 4 out of 10 adolescents and young adults considered themselves well-informed about HIV ... let us undertake this responsibility with leadership, passion, and courage. Let us make our children’s right to protect themselves a reality ... "

By Nils Kastberg, UNICEF, Regional Director; Mirta Roses Periago, PAHO/WHO, WHO Regional Director for the Americas; César Antonio Núñez, UNAIDS, Regional Director; and Pedro Medrano, WFP, Regional Director. Article from these four directors, members of the Regional Directors Group (RDG)of UNAIDS Cosponsors in Latin America and the Caribbean where PAHO became the new Chair for the 2008/2009 period, a role it played when the RDG was founded in 2003. UNICEF becomes the new Vice-Chair.

Article: It's time to break the silence »

Spanish version: Es hora de romper el silencio »

A thoughtful interview for the health magazine “Patients for Patient Safety and the Right to Health” conducted by Garance Upham, the dynamic Chair of the disability and economics circle of the People’s Health Movement reminded me a few days ago about the requirement to keep improving the public health and public policy responses to the needs of people living with disability.
Director's BLOG »

Mejores respuestas a las necesidades de las personas que viven con discapacidad

Una interesante entrevista para la revista “Pacientes por la Seguridad del Paciente y el Derecho a la Salud” llevada a cabo por Garance Upham, la dinámica presidenta del círculo sobre discapacidad y economía del Movimiento por la Salud de los Pueblos me recordó hace unos días la necesidad de seguir mejorando las respuestas que se brindan en materia de salud pública y de políticas públicas a las necesidades de las personas que viven con discapacidad.
BLOG de la Directora »

Stephen Horn of Global Health TV chats with Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), at the Global Health Council's International Conference. She addressed the conference about the challenges of implementing a health system based on primary health care as we mark the 30th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration.
Interview »