Health Ministers to gather in Washington for PAHO Directing Council Sept. 25

Washington, D.C., September 21, 2006 (PAHO)—Health ministers from throughout the Americas will meet in Washington Sept. 25-29 for the Pan American Health Organization's 47th Directing Council, an annual health summit to discuss crucial public health issues.

PAHO Director Dr. Mirta Roses is scheduled to inform ministers on progress toward reducing gaps in health for the benefit of the least protected populations in the Americas as part of her annual report, which also details advances in malaria control, reduction of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and progress in regional immunization programs, notably the elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome.

The ministers open their meeting Monday with welcoming remarks by Dr. Anders Nordström, acting Director-General of the World Health Organization and a welcome on behalf of the host country by Hon. Mike Leavitt, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. H.E. José Miguel Insulza, Secretary-General of the Organization of American States will also address the council, and Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, Acting FDA Commissioner, is slated to brief the ministers on the FDA's 100th anniversary.

Panama's First Lady, Sra. Vivian Fernández de Torrijos, is scheduled to speak Monday morning during a discussion on "Disability: Prevention and Rehabilitation in the Context of the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health and Other Related Rights." A panel discussion on strategic alliances to attain the UN Millennium Declaration development goals is slated for Monday afternoon, along with presentations of the PAHO Award for Administration and the Abraham Horwitz Award for Leadership in Inter-American Health.

On Tuesday, delegates will discuss the PAHO annual report, hear an update on the process of institutional strengthening of the Bureau and discuss the Commission on Social Determinants of Health and the development of a new Health Agenda for the Americas. A briefing is also scheduled on disease control priorities.

Wednesday's provisional agenda includes items on the organization's strategic plan for 2008-2012, a performance assessment on the 2004-2005 program budget, the WHO medium-term plan and proposed budget for 2008-2009, and the process of election of PAHO's director. Elections this year are scheduled to choose three countries replacing Argentina, Barbados and Costa Rica, whose terms are expiring. Also up for election are posts on the boards of joint special programs for research in tropical diseases and in human reproduction.

Thursday's sessions will focus on achievements and lessons learned in health promotion and new regional strategies on prevention and control of chronic diseases, including diet, physical activity and health, as well as a plan of action on nutrition and health and development.

Delegates are slated to discuss the regional strategy for sustaining national immunization programs, which notes: "Despite excellent progress, national immunization programs continue to face significant challenges, which include completing the unfinished agenda of achieving 95% coverage in low-performing districts; reaching the target of the elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) by 2010; and introducing new-generation vaccines against priority diseases of children, adolescents, and adults."

Other topics on the agenda for Thursday include neonatal health, the health of indigenous peoples of the Americas, a proposed 10-year regional oral health plan, and critical challenges for the Americas in human resources in health. PAHO experts will also brief ministers on the preparations for a possible influenza pandemic, and deliver a progress report on national and regional disaster preparedness and response.

The agenda and all the documents for the Directing Council can be found here.

PAHO, established in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and living standards of their peoples. It is also the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.