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Speeches from the Director
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.
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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.
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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]


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


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 »


OUR Planet, OUR Health, OUR Future - They are in OUR Hands.
Washington, D.C. PAHO HQ. April 7, 2008.- "...We need a comprehensive Framework for Action to properly address climate change and its impact on health: addressing Evidence, implementing Adaptation mechanisms in the health sector, and providing Leadership..."
Celebrating World Health Day 2008 at PAHO
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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.
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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


Building concrete, viable outputs and constructive proposals for injury prevention and safety promotion
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. March 15, 2008.- We need to target the causes and risk factors for violence and traffic injuries. Director's Speech at the inauguration ceremony at the 9th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion.
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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]


PAHO Director: Gender Inequality is Completely Unacceptable
Washington, D.C., March 10, 2008 (PAHO)— More than a third of women in Latin America and the Caribbean have suffered violence at the hands of their domestic partners, more than 22,000 die each year in childbirth from preventable causes, and women and girls account for a growing proportion of all new cases of HIV.
These and similar examples of gender inequality are "completely unacceptable," said Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr. Mirta Roses today at an event celebrating International Women's Day 2008, held at PAHO headquarters in Washington, D.C.
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Gender Equality: Let's Get Real
Director's speech at the celebration of International Women's Day 2008.
"... We need to get real about the persistently high rates of gender based violence, about the stubbornly high and unjust rates of maternal mortality, about the increasing casualties from accidents among our men and boys, about the alarming HIV infections among women and girls, especially in our Caribbean countries, about the essential and unpaid care, about women and men's different needs and realities, about health differences between women and men, about funding women's empowerment ..."
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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."
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Dr. Roses' Opening Remarks at the PAHO consultation meeting on WHO Research Strategy.
Washington, D.C. HQ. February 8, 2008.- The definition of a health research strategy will provide a critical tool for managing and organizing research activities within WHO and its regional offices. It should also guide and support member states in organizing health research. The governments of the Americas have made research a regional priority as stated in the health agenda for the Americas. PAHO is responding to this call for action by drafting its own health research policy. ."
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Dr. Mirta Roses Inaugural Address as Director of the Pan American Health Organization
February 1, 2008.-
"This is above all a day of commitment. Today I renew my oath to devote myself tirelessly, day by day, hour by hour, to keeping PAHO at the forefront of the response to the regional and global challenges in public health and, particularly, to serve as an instrument for bringing good health to the most neglected, vulnerable, marginalized, and excluded populations."
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WHO Director General, Dr. Margaret Chan at the PAHO's Director sworn ceremony
Washington, D.C. February 1, 2008.-Video speech of Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) at the Inaugural ceremony of Dr. Mirta Roses as Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for a second term.
Video


WHO Executive Board reappoints Dr Mirta Roses as Regional Director for the Americas
Geneva, January 24, 2008 (PAHO).— Dr Mirta Roses was reappointed as Regional Director for the Americas by the World Health Organization's Executive Board today, and will begin her second five-year term as Regional Director for the Americas after being sworn in at a Washington ceremony February 1.
Dr Roses' Acceptance Speech: English / Español / Português / Français
PAHO Release »


Equity and Primary Health Care
November 8, 2007. News Release - Article.- In the health sector, the fastest and most effective way to reduce the social gaps that affect the Region is to apply the primary care strategy, because decentralizing care and reaching out to people generate enormous benefits for individuals, families, and society as a whole. Mirta Roses-Periago, Director, Pan American Health Organization.
Equidad y Atención Primaria en Salud
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Action Against Diabetes
November 14, 2007.- "PAHO’s Strategy and Plan of Action for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases promote better diabetes prevention and control in the Region. Emphasis is placed on the organization of services, access to diagnostic methods and treatment, and prevention." Dr. Roses article celebrating World Diabetes Day 2007.
Acción contra la diabetes (spanish version)
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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


Dr. Chan's opening remarks at the Fourth Global Meeting of Heads of WHO Country Offices
Geneva, Switzerland. 12 November 2007.- "We all know that health problems, and the capacity to address them, vary considerably from region to region. Each country has its own unique set of threats to health. Health is affected by cultural beliefs, such as those that influence the status of women or stigmatize people with certain diseases. Health is influenced by political systems and the quality of governance. Health systems are themselves highly context-specific, shaped by history, and by the social, cultural, and political environment.
These observations lead us to an obvious conclusion: this Organization’s decentralized structure is an asset. It follows a time-honoured principle: delegation of responsibility to the level of greatest operational efficiency."
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Spanish Cooperation and Health in the Americas
Madrid, Spain. October 29, 2007.- Spanish cooperation with PAHO to promote public health in the Americas, in addition to its bilateral cooperation with the countries, has been tremendously important. Launched in Central America in the 1980s with the program “Health, a Bridge for Peace,” it has continued to grow and set an example.
Article - Director's BLOG (PDF)
Versión español


Another Step Forward in Gender Equity
Washington, DC. October 28, 2007.- Breaking the "glass ceiling," an expression used to describe the often invisible but nevertheless very real obstacles to women assuming positions of the highest responsibility is critical to achieving gender equity.
Article-Director's BLOG
Artículo - BLOG de la Directora (spanish)


Serving our hopeful, striving peoples who aspire to better living and health conditions is the purpose of our efforts.
Director's Election Video
Washington D.C.
October 3, 2007.-

"With humility, unwavering dedication, and the steadfast support that all of you and our partners and allies in health development have given me, I shall continue to advance PAHO’s noble mission on behalf of public health in the Region.

The 27th Pan American Sanitary Conference, the most important meeting of the Governing Bodies of the Pan American Health Organization, today reelected Dr. Mirta Roses Periago as Director of this prestigious health institution serving the Americas for five more years.
Acceptance Speech:
English / Spanish / French / Portuguese


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.
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Dr. Roses' Talking Points at the Regional Summit on Chronic Non_Communicable Diseases.
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. September 15, 2007. - "I am honored to have been invited to this special Summit of CARICOM Heads of Government. Let me congratulate you for the leadership and strategic vision you are demonstrating in uniting to stop the chronic disease epidemic that is undermining human and economic development prospects of economies which can ill afford them. It is clear that for the Caribbean, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) need to include NCDs, since the current epidemic also needs to be curbed before 2015."
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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


Social Cohesion and Protection in Health, important objectives for constructing more inclusive societies in Ibero-America
Iquique, Chile. Julio 9-10, 2007.- The Ministers of Health of Ibero-America have concurred that health "constitutes one of the pillars" of social cohesion, and affirmed their support for equal access to this right on the first day of the IX Ibero-American Conference of Ministers of Health, held in Iquique, Chile.
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Health is essential for sustainable democracy in Americas.
Washington, D.C. PAHO HQ. June 20, 2007.- Ambassadors' pronouncement during the presentation of Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, Director of the Pan American Health Organization to the OAS Ambassadors Permanent Council on the upcoming 140th Session of PAHO's Executive Committee, which will be held next week at PAHO HQ.
Director's presentation. Briefing Session to the Permanent Ambassadors to the Organization of American States.
[Release is available in Spanish, English version will be updated soon]
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Fulbright-PAHO Interns in Public Health and Interns from the PAHO Internship Program meet the Director
Washington, D.C. PAHO HQ. June 21, 2007.- "Senior PAHOs Interns" as the Director called them meet to celebrate the second year of the Fulbright-PAHO Internship in Public Health. The Pan American Health Organization has a 23 years history of developing international public health professionals through their International Public Health Professional Program and more recently their Internship and Fulbright Internship Programs. Several hundred professionals have graduated from these programs that are an invaluable partner for the work and leadership of the Organization in the region and across the world.
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New Life for Primary Health Care: the Social Determinants of Health.
Vancouver, Canada. 7-9 June 2007.- Director presentation at the 8th Commissioners' meeting of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Any approach to improve health should be linked within a broader economic, social and political context, and should allow for the inclusion of multiple actors and sectors. PAHO understands Primary Health Care (PHC) as an integral part of the development of Health Systems.
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Latin America and the Caribbean: United in Diversity toward Universal Access
Buenos Aires, Argentina. 20 April 2007.- Turn the HIV epidemic around through an integrated response… prevention, care, and treatment, in a social environment marked by respect and the exercise of human rights, including the right to health, inclusion, and zero tolerance for stigma and discrimination. Closing remarks of Dr. Mirta Roses, PAHO's Director at the IV Latin American and Caribbean Forum on HIV/AIDS/STI.
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Let us each do our part to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.
Washington, D.C., HQ. March 8, 2007. - Director's speaking notes at the celebration of International Women's Day at PAHO HQ. Dr. Roses welcome the ambassadors, delegations and personalities that gather today in PAHO to celebrate the 2007 International Women's Day,- "a date when women around the world, celebrate their achievements and take stock of progress made towards achieving gender equity".
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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2007. Message from the Director.
"Make Every Girl Count:Improving Cervical Cancer Prevention"
The Pan American Health Organization celebrates International Women’s Day working intensely for the equality and the equity.
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Avian flu in UK and their impact on the Region. BBC News Washington Interview Dr. Roses.
Washington, D.C. February 4, 2007. - The BBC News invited Dr. Mirta Roses to discuss the avian flu situation in the United Kingdom and its impact in the Region. The live interview took place on 27 February at 8:20 p.m. Dr. Albino Belotto, Unit Chief of the PAHO’s Health Surveillance and Disease Management Unit, accompanied Dr. Roses. (Release in Spanish version)
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Improving People’s Health through Healthy Environments
Washington, D.C. February 2, 2007. - Millions of families in the world exist – or struggle to survive – in environmental hazards. They are exposed to harsh weather, poor ventilation, little light and the need for constant repair. These conditions are especially oppressive for children – their bodies, their growth and development and their dreams. We need to find the ways to strengthen linkages between health and environment, and integrate our work to improve quality of life in the region.
Dr. Roses presentation in the plenary session at the 7th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment (NCSE), with focus on Integrating Environment and Human Health.
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World AIDS Day, 2006. Message from Director. Stop AIDS, keep the promise
Washington, D.C.December 1st, 2006. Fighting AIDS: personal and professional commitment. Almost 200 deaths a day from AIDS in our Region that could be avoided.
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The obesity epidemic in Latin America. Healthy Eating and Active Living: A Public Health Priority.
Fundraising Obesity Campaign. Miami, Florida. October 27, 2006. The Pan American Health Organization, improving public health through healthy eating and physical activity. Dr. Roses promoting PAHO anti-Obesity Campaign.
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Consolidated income plans, donor engagement plans, and resource mobilization action plans to commit a virtual WHO's GRM Network.
Main objective of the WHO's Global Resource Mobilization Team (GRMT) Annual Meeting, hosted by PAHO/WHO. Washington, D.C., PAHO-HQ, October 11-13, 2006. - Dr. Mirta Roses, PAHO's Director welcome the participants to the meeting, and noted that the organization is moving toward resource mobilization, and its important to be transparent in information, good in planning instruments, and show the benefits of good resource mobilization policies. The meeting's opening was also chair by Dr. Anders Nordstrom, WHO's acting Director-General; Mrs. Namita Pradhan, PRP Director/WHO; and Dr. David Heymann, WHO Resource Mobilization Framework via Videolink.
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Leaders and Experts in Mental Health meet in PAHO in a Special Forum. World Mental Health Day 2006.
Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), address today the Opening Remarks at the Special Forum of Panel Presentations to commemorate officially the "World Mental Health Day 2006. Theme: "Building Awareness - Reducing Risk: Mental Illness and Suicide", taken the opportunity to focus the attention on suicide as a major health public problem and its link to mental disorders.
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PAHO/WHO's Collaborating Center on Public Health, Law and Human Rights at Georgetown and Johns Hopkins Universities.
PAHO's Director Dr. Mirta Roses Periago addressed the assemblage celebrating the launching of the Center for Law and the Public's Health as a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center. The event took place at Georgetown University Law Center.
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Close the Gap of Health in the Least Protected Population.
Annual Report of the Director - 2006.

"The search for equity in health is one of the main objectives that guide" the Pan American Health Organization actions in the Americas, PAHO Director Dr. Mirta Roses said today, presenting her annual report to the organization's 47th Directing Council, an annual summit of health ministers who meet to discuss crucial public health issues. The report focuses on closing the gaps in health in the least protected populations in the Americas.
Annual Report of the Director 2006


Working Together for the Health of the Americas.
Director's Annual Report - 2005.

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Pan American Health Organization, I have the honor to present the 2004-2005 annual report on the activities of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, Regional Office of the World Health Organization. The report highlights the major events that have taken place during the period in the course of carrying out the program of technical cooperation within the framework of the Strategic Plan for the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, 2003-2007, defined by the Governing Bodies of the Pan American Health Organization.
Annual Report of the Director 2005


Health: An Essential Component of the Development Goals Set Forth in the Declaration of the Millennium.
The Development Goals set forth in the United Nations Millennium Declaration reflect an unprecedented political consensus on the state of the world and its vision for the future. They establish measurable targets and specific timetables for the progress of humankind. These targets can be met if we are capable of turning them into the banner, the dreams, the aspirations, and the demands of individuals, groups, families, communities, and nations.
Annual Report of the Director 2004


Moving towards a New Century of Health in the Americas.
Annual Report of the Director - 2003.

Main subjects are: Progress towards Equity and Challenges Ahead; Strategic and Programmatic Orientations 1999-2002; PAHO Celebrates its Centennial; and the Change in Management and the New Administration's Foundation.
Annual Report of the Director 2003