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Regional Strategy on an Integrated Approach to the Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases Including Diet, Physical Activity, and Health
Chronic diseases are the major cause of death in all the countries of the Americas. This strategy was created to deal with this new epidemic: It Strategy is comprehensive, requiring a combination of interventions for the population and individuals. It is integrated, spanning prevention and control strategies focusing on the major chronic diseases and cross-cutting risk factors (especially diet, physical activity, tobacco, and alcohol). Finally, it is intersectoral, because most of the major determinants of the chronic-disease burden lie outside the health sector. This page offers an executive summary and access to the full text in PAHO publication format, as well as related initiatives.(4/Sep/2008)
In English       (6.92k)   (1669.81k)
en español     (7.68k)   (1662.37k)
en Français    (754.25k)
em Português (625.47k)

CD48/20 Violence and Injury Prevention
(21/Aug/2008)
en español (119.5k)
em Português (117.66k)

Trans Fat Free Americas: Declaration of Rio de Janeiro
Public health authorities, representatives of the food industry, and companies producing edible fats and oils--convened by the PAHO/WHO in the city of Rio de Janeiro from 8-9 June 2008--made this declaration against trans fatty acids in foods produced for human consumption.(9/Jun/2008)
In English       (165.74k)
en español     (169.27k)
em Português (157.03k)

Hospital Infections: Legislation in Latin America
Comparative legislation study on the prevention, surveillance, and control of hospital (nosocomial) infections in Latin America, with the goal of analyzing trends and evaluating the current status of health surveillance systems. This page contains a summary and access to the full text in Spanish. This book is a collaborative effort of two PAHO technical units, Health Policies and Systems and Communicable Diseases.(31/Dec/2007)
In English (4.35k)
en español (4.6k) (1911.7k)

Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Rabies in the Americas, 2005–2009
The goal of this regional plan is to prevent avoidable rabies cases. Its objectives are to complete the process of eliminating human rabies transmitted by dogs and reduce the risk of human rabies transmitted by other species. This page offers a summary and access to the full text in Spanish, plus links to other PAHO/WHO information on rabies. (31/Dec/2007)
In English (9.64k)
en español (10.45k)

Global Plan to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2008–2015
The WHO Global Plan to Combat NTDs Global Plan has been formulated according to the following key principles: the right to health; existing health systems as a setting for interventions; a coordinated, multi-disease response by the health system; integration and equity; and intensified control of diseases alongside pro-poor policies. This page contains the executive summary plus a link to the full text.(24/Aug/2007)
In English       (8.99k)
en español     (10.88k)
en Français    (10.49k)
em Português (11.18k)

Renewing Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Americas
The goal of this document is to generate ideas and recommendations to enable such a renewal, and to help strengthen and reinvigorate PHC into a concept that can lead the development of health systems for the coming quarter century and beyond.
There are several reasons for adopting a renewed approach to PHC, including: the rise of new epidemiologic challenges that PHC must evolve to address; the need to correct weaknesses and inconsistencies present in some of the widely divergent approaches to PHC; the development of new tools and knowledge of best practices that PHC can capitalize on to be more effective; and a growing recognition that PHC is an approach to strengthen society’s ability to reduce inequities in health. (9/Jul/2007)
In English (306.84k)
en español (2588.39k)

Regional Strategic Plan for Malaria in the Americas 2006–2010
The plan to combat malaria over the next five years takes into account the need for continuous efforts to achieve specific goals as well as the reduction of the burden on human health and the negative social and economic effects of the disease among the most affected population groups. It emphasizes the need for access to malaria diagnosis, appropriate treatment, preventive interventions, and sufficient health service coverage--meaning that strategies must be coupled with concrete actions and an enduring commitment.(26/Jun/2007)
In English (6.75k) (2461.04k)
en español (8.24k)

Malaria, including Proposal for Establishment of World Malaria Day
This resolution of the Sixtieth World Health Assembly held in May 2007 provides the recommendations made to control the global burden of malaria (Resolution WHA60.18). It constitutes not only the WHO global mandate but also the PAHO mandate for the Americas.(23/May/2007)
In English       WHA60.18
en español     WHA60.18
en Français    WHA60.18

WHA60.18: Malaria, including Proposal for Establishment of World Malaria Day
This resolution from the 60th World Health Assembly in 2007 sets forth the WHO global mandate for malaria and a proposal for an annual World Malaria Day, which PAHO has adopted for the Americas.(23/May/2007)
In English       WHA60.18
en español     WHA60.18
en Français    WHA60.18

WHA60.28--Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Sharing of Influenza Viruses and Access to Vaccines and Other Benefits
This resolution of the 60th World Health Assembly en 2007 constitutes the WHO global mandate for pandemic and avian influenza, which has been adopted by PAHO for the Americas.(23/May/2007)
In English       WHA60.28
en español     WHA60.28
en Français    WHA60.28

WHA60.19: Tuberculosis Control: Progress and Long-Term Planning
This resolution of the 60th World Health Assembly in 2007 sets forth the global mandate for TB control and planning of services to deal with the TB epidemic, especially MDR-TB, XDR-TB, TB-HIV co-infection, and TB among disadvantaged groups. PAHO has adopted this mandate for the Americas.(23/May/2007)
In English       WHA60.19
en español     WHA60.19
en Français    WHA60.19

WHA60.25: Integrating Gender Analysis and Actions into the Work of WHO: Draft Strategy
This resolution from the 60th World Health Assembly in 2007 sets forth the WHO mandate to analyze the data and act in ensuring and integrating gender equality into all health-related areas and all levels of health-care delivery and services for women and girls of all ages.(23/May/2007)
In English       WHA60.25
en español     WHA60.25
en Français    WHA60.25

Regional Strategy for Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Reduction
The document Regional Strategy for Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Reduction, was endorsed by Member States at the Pan American Sanitary Conference in September 2002. This strategy represents significant efforts by PAHO and its partner organizations to incorporate the latest research, best practices and experience gained in more than a decade of the Safe Motherhood Movement into concrete steps for countries to fulfill national plans and work toward the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).(18/May/2007)
In English (1524.22k)
en español (1524.22k)

The Stop TB Strategy
This page describes the vision, goals, objectives, and targets of the Global Stop TB Strategy. It contains a link to the one-page WHO fact sheet / poster as well as to the 24-pp strategy document in PDF.(31/Dec/2006)
In English       WHO Stop TB Strategy Page
en español     (6.31k)   (1005.62k)   Hoja descriptiva / afiche Alto a la tuberculosis
en Français    (6.55k)   Aide-mémoire / affiche Halte à la tuberculose
em Português (6.34k)   Folha informativa / poster Estratégia Stop TB

Regional Plan for Tuberculosis Control, 2006–2015
In response to the epidemiological challenge that tuberculosis (TB) represents, PAHO has declared TB a health priority for the Americas and hence developed this plan. Objectives are to extend and/or implement the DOTS Strategy, position TB control as a health priority of the Member Governments, and raise the awareness of partners and international donor agencies about the need to support the countries of the Region. This page contains a summary and a link to the 80-page plan in PDF. Chapter 2 provides an up-to-date analysis of the epidemiological situation.(13/Nov/2006)
In English (13.43k) (5532.24k)
en español (14.57k) (4626.85k)

Resolution CD46.R13: Malaria and the Internationally Agreed-Upon Development Goals Including Those Contained in the Millennium Declaration
This resolution was made at the 46th meeting of the PAHO Directing Council in September 2005.(30/Sep/2005)
In English PAHO Resolution CD 46.R13
en español Resolución CD46.13

Comparativo de legislaciones sobre sangre segura
Recopilación y análisis de legislación comparada sobre sangre segura en los países de América Latina. Propuesta de ley modelo sobre servicios de sangre(22/Aug/2005)
en español (1585.78k)

Global Strategy for Further Reducing the Leprosy Burden and Sustaining Leprosy Control Activities (Plan period: 2006–2010)
The emphasis of the WHO global strategy on leprosy control will remain on providing quality patient care that is equitably distributed, affordable and easily accessible. At the moment, there are no new technical tools or information that warrant any drastic changes in the strategy. However, there is an urgent need to make decisive changes in the organization of leprosy control, in the attitude of health-care providers and beneficiaries, and in the working arrangements between all partners. This page offers the executive summary and a link to the full-text WHO document.(27/Jun/2005)
In English       (5.37k)
en español     (5.87k)
en Français    (6.46k)
em Português (5.74k)

A58/62: Seventh Report of Committee A
This report from the 58th World Health Assembly in 2005 deals with (1) antimicrobial resistance as a threat to global health security, and its containment; and (2) Strengthening pandemic influenza preparedness and response, and enhancing laboratory biosafety. It set forth the WHO global mandate in this regard and has been adopted by PAHO for the Americas.(25/May/2005)
In English       A58/62
en español     A58/62
en Français    A58/62

WHA58/27: Improving the Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance
In May 2005, the World Health Assembly adopted this resolution for the global containment of resistance to antimicrobials (antibiotics), which constitutes not only the WHO global mandate but also the PAHO mandate for the Americas.(25/May/2005)
In English       WHA58/27
en español     WHA58/27
en Français    WHA58/27

WHA58.2: Malaria Control
Concerned that malaria continues to cause more than one million preventable deaths a year, especially among young children and other vulnerable groups; and that the disease continues to threaten the lives of millions of people in the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Pacific; and aware of the goals of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) initiative and the United Nations Millennium Declaration, the 58th World Health Assembly in 2005 established a series of mandates in this resolution to deal with malaria control.(23/May/2005)
In English       WHA58.2
en español     WHA58.2
en Français    WHA58.2

Blood Transfusion Medicine in the Caribean and Latin American Countries 2000-2003
The 41st Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) adopted resolution CD41.R15, Strengthening Blood Banks in the Region of the Americas, in Puerto Rico in September/October 1999. In the resolution, the Ministers of Health requested that PAHO “document the progress of national blood programs,” among other activities. In response to the specific request, PAHO has collected information from the countries on a yearly basis, using a standardized form which was developed in consultation with those individuals responsible for the national blood programs in Latin American countries, and for the national blood banks in the Caribbean subregion (Annex 1). The summary data included in the annual survey allow both local health authorities and PAHO to analyze the availability and safety of blood by country and by subregion.(1/Apr/2005)
In English (5.98k) (1362.35k)
en español (7.42k) (1917.04k)

EB115.R16: Strengthening Pandemic-Influenza Preparedness and Response
This report makes recommendations that led to the resolutions made in the 2005 World Health Assembly, which set forth the WHO global mandate for pandemic influenza preparedness and response and was subsequently adopted by PAHO for the Americas.(24/Jan/2005)
In English       EB115.R16
en español     EB115.R16
en Français    EB115.R16

EB115.R14: Malaria
Concerned that malaria continues to cause more than one million preventable deaths a year, especially among young children and other vulnerable groups; and that the disease continues to threaten the lives of millions of people in the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Pacific; and aware of the goals of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) initiative and the United Nations Millennium Declaration, the WHO Executive Board made a series of recommendations to be taken up at the 58th World Health Assembly in 2005.(24/Jan/2005)
In English       EB115.R14
en español     EB115.R14
en Français    EB115.R14

WHO-EB115.R6: Antimicrobial Resistance: A Threat to Global Health Security
In January 2005, the WHO Executive Board adopted this resolution to deal with the danger to public health raised by antimicrobial resistance, or resistance to antibiotics, recommending that it be passed by that year's World Health Assembly. It laid the groundwork not only the WHO global mandate but also the PAHO mandate for the Americas.(22/Jan/2005)
In English       WHO-EC115.R6
en español     WHO-EB115.R6
en Français    OMS-EB115.R6

Bauru Consensus for Validating Leprosy Diagnoses in Endemic States in Brazil
This consensus is a collaborative effort of PAHO-Brazil, the Secretary of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health, and the Lauro de Souza Lima Institute, with the objective of validating the leprosy diagnostic procedures for new cases. The exercise will be carried out in the 23 endemic states during August 2004. This page offers access to a summary, the full-text document (with forms and instruments), and other useful links on leprosy elimination in Brazil.(22/Jul/2004)
In English       (4.05k)
en español     (4.43k)
em Português (4.21k)

WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health
WHO developed, under a May 2002 mandate from Member States, a Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, which was endorsed by the May 2004 World Health Assembly. The link below offers access to the text of the final resolution (WHA57.17) with the strategy document attached.(30/May/2004)
In English       WHO
en español     OMS
en Français    OMS

“3 BY 5” STRATEGIC ORIENTATIONS
This document was developed by the 3 by 5 Task Force convened by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in January 2004, with the objective of defining strategic orientations for the implementation of the "3 by 5 Initiative". The Task Force was comprised of experts from PAHO and selected experts from Central America and the Caribbean, including representatives of non-governmental organizations of people living with HIV/AIDS.(11/Mar/2004)
In English (1.76k) (176.95k)
en español (1.9k) (174.89k)

The Houston Declaration Agreed upon at the Hemispheric Conference on the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Houston, Texas, 3–4 March 2004)
This milestone declaration in the fight against FMD emerged as a result of the Hemispheric Conference on the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, held in Houston, Texas, USA, 3–4 March 2004. It was arrived at as a result of input from Ministers and Secretaries of Agriculture and Health, Presidents and Representatives of Federations and Associations of Producers, and others involved in the livestock production chain, and the Representatives of International Agencies present at the conference.(4/Mar/2004)
In English (10.54k)

PAHO Structure: Organizational Chart (updated 1/27/04)
On 1 March 2003 the Pan American Sanitary Bureau (PASB) underwent significant modifications in its organizational structure.(27/Jan/2004)
In English (1.12k)
en español (1.15k)

PAHO Policy in the Procurement of Pharmaceutical Products for Projects Financed by the GFATM
The following policy has been elaborated by PAHO in support of Principal Recipients designated by the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) that wish to use the procurement services of PAHO for the purchase of pharmaceutical products required in the implementation of projects financed by the GFATM.(15/Dec/2003)
In English (50.43k)
en español (56.52k)

Position of WHO's Roll Back Malaria Department on Malaria Treatment Policy
This WHO position paper outlines its current policy and recommendations regarding malaria treatment, including the drugs used and how it approaches the issue of multidrug resistance (MDR) in developing countries.(26/Nov/2003)
In English (10.49k)

Agreements: Workshop on Tuberculosis Control in Prisons (San Pedro Sula, Honduras, 11-13 August 2003)
This page offers the 11 key points for a Joint Action Plan among the authorities from each of the participating countries to try to deal with the growing problem of TB infection among prisoners.(15/Sep/2003)
In English (4.68k)
en español (4.9k)

Encuesta Mundial del Tabaquismo en Jóvenes (EMTJ)
La Encuesta Mundial del Tabaquismo en Jóvenes (EMTJ) se realiza en las escuelas entre los estudiantes de 13 a 15 años de edad. Recopila y difunde información sobre la prevalencia del consumo de tabaco, la exposición a los medios publicitarios y de comunicación, la exposición pasiva al humo de tabaco de los fumadores, el acceso y disponibilidad a los productos del tabaco, y la cesación del tabaquismo. Este documento define los papeles de los socios de la encuesta así como las políticas y los procedimientos de la EMTJ en relación con la recolección, procesamiento y publicación de los datos. Este documento persigue estandarizar el desarrollo de la encuesta a nivel nacional y servir de referencia para la implementación de la EMTJ en los países participantes.(28/Jul/2003)
en español (407.86k)

WHA56.R29: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: Resolution of the World Health Assembly
This resolution was adopted on 28 May 2003 and contains a series of recommendations to countries and official bodies on how to deal with the epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).(28/May/2003)
In English (123.76k)
en español (118.78k)

What is PAHO?
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is an international public health agency with 100 years of experience working to improve health and living standards of the people of the Americas. It enjoys international recognition as part of the United Nations system, serving as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, and as the health organization of the Inter-American System.(1/Mar/2003)
In English (12.19k)
en español (13.82k)

The Yangon Declaration
This document offers the declaration made by the participants of the Third Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Elimination of Leprosy (GAEL), convened at the initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Yangon, Union of Myanmar, from 6-8 February 2003 under the auspices of the Minister of Health, Union of Myanmar. The page links to the recommendations of the Technical Advisory Group and the WHO Leprosy Page.(8/Feb/2003)
In English (4.44k)
em Português (5.05k)

Cooperating in Veterinary Public Health. Quadrennial Report of the Director, Centennial Edition
This excerpt from the Quadrennial Report of the Director deals with the topics of veterinary public health, food safety, and foot-and-mouth disease. It has been created to facilitate user access to the specific topic.(15/Sep/2002)
In English (146.07k)
en español (146.49k)

WHA55.17: Dengue Fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever Prevention and Control
This resolution from the World Health Assembly is the foundation for PAHO's mandate in the struggle against dengue in the Americas.(18/May/2002)
In English       WHA55.17
en español     WHA55.17
en Français    WHA55.17

Diabetes Initiative for the Americas (DIA): Action Plan for Latin America & the Caribbean, 2001-2006
Diabetes is one of the leading health problems in Latin America and the Caribbean, where an estimated 19 million people suffer from this disease. According to projections, unless major preventive actions are taken, this number could rise to 40 million by 2025. In order to deal with the problem of diabetes from a public health perspective, this proposal calls for people with diabetes, organized interest groups, and multidisciplinary care teams from both the public and private sector to be involved in this plan. Such involvement will strengthen the work with health providers, ensuring the early detection and appropriate management of diabetes and its complications.(1/Feb/2002)
In English (3.76k) (1398.51k)
en español (3.94k) (1288.22k)

WHA54.19: Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections
In May 2001, the World Health Assembly passed this resolution to deal with schistosomiasis (snail fever) and geohelminth infections as a public health problem. It constitutes the PAHO mandate for the Americas.(22/May/2001)
In English       WHA54.19
en español     WHA54.19
en Français    WHA54.19

Cooperative Agreement to the Pan American Health Organization to initiate the Post Hurricane Reconstruction of the Public Healthcare System in Central America
The following project proposal has been prepared in response to the United States Department of Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Program Announcement 00021: Post Hurricane Reconstruction of the Public Health-Care System in Central America and the Caribbean. The proposal is aimed at providing assistance to rebuild or strengthen national and subregional health systems which will facilitate prevention and control of morbidity and mortality from communicable diseases. (1/Oct/2000)
In English (253.95k)

European Health21, Target 11: Healthier Living
From the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in its 48th Meeting (Copenhagen, 9/1998), this document establishes goal for the year 2015, by which time people from all social levels should have adopted a healthier lifestyle through an integrated approach. These dietary norms information that health professionals can impart to their clients to help them prevent illness and promote good health by following a healthy diet based primarily on vegetables. This HTML page contains the abstract and provides access to the full-text WHO document in downloadable PDF (416 KB).(22/Jun/2000)
In English (1.72k)
en español (1.98k)

The Pan American Sanitary Code - Toward a Hemispheric Health Policy. 1924-1999
The Pan American Sanitary Code was signed ad referendum by 18 countries of the Americas in the assembly hall of the former Academy of Medical, Physical, and Natural Sciences (now the Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Museum of Science History) on 14 November 1924 in Havana, Cuba, during the Seventh Pan American Sanitary Conference.(15/Nov/1999)
In English (1.55k) (693.03k)
en español (1.73k) (692.24k)

WHA52.11: Roll Back Malaria
This resolution from the 52nd World Health Assembly in 1999 recognizes the global burden of malaria is a challenge to human development and a significant cause of poverty and human suffering, particularly in the poorest nations of the world, and lays down a series of mandates on how to approach this problem through integrated and unified efforts.(24/May/1999)
In English       WHA52.11
en español     WHA52.11
en Français    WHA52.11

WHA51.15: Elimination of Leprosy as a Public Health Problem
This resolution of the 51st World Health Assembly in 1998 sets forth the WHO global mandate for eliminating leprosy, which was adopted by PAHO for the Americas.(16/May/1998)
In English       (3.34k)
en español     (3.55k)
en Français    (3.68k)

WHA51.14: Elimination of Transmission of Chagas Disease
In 1998, the 51st World Health Assembly passed this resolution to interrupt the transmission of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) in the Americas. It constitutes the WHO mandate and was adopted by PAHO for the Americas and implemented through four subregional initiatives (AMCHA, IPCA, IPA, and INCOSUR).(16/May/1998)
In English       (20.6k)
en español     (21.34k)
en Français    (20.93k)

WHA51.17: Emerging and Other Communicable Diseases: Antimicrobial Resistance
In 1998, the 51st World Health Assembly adopted this resolution, setting forth the WHO global mandate for the fight against resistance to antibiotics as well as for adopting new approaches for dealing with emerging diseases. PAHO has adopted this mandate for the Americas.(16/May/1998)
In English       (108.5k)
en español     (123.79k)
en Français

WHA51.13: Tuberculosis
In 1998, the 51st World Health Assembly passed this resolution, which established the WHO global mandate for the fight against TB, which was adopted by PAHO for the Americas. It also set aside one day every year as World TB Day.(16/May/1998)
In English       (1708.62k)
en español     (168.15k)
en Français

WHA50.29: Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis as a Public Health Problem
At the 50th World Health Assembly in May 1997, the WHO Executive Board set forth the global mandate for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) as a public health problem, which PAHO adopted for the Americas.(13/May/1997)
In English       (3174.38k)   WHO
en español     (3602.7k)
en Français    (3580.7k)

Toward a Comprehensive Approach to Health (Nº 2 of the Health of the Indigenous Peoples)
Toward a Comprehensive Approach to Health Guidelines for research with Indigenous Peoples Working Group November 29 to December 1st 1995(3/Jan/1997)
In English (2344.26k)
en español (2392.99k)

WHA44.9: Adoption of Multidrug Therapy for Elimination of Leprosy as a Public Health Problem
This 1991 resolution from the 44th World Health Assembly forms the basis for activities aimed at eliminating leprosy as a public health problem at the global level. It constitutes WHO's commitment to eliminating the disease as well as PAHO's mandate for the Americas.(13/May/1991)
In English       (5.34k)
en español     (6.55k)
en Français    (5.82k)

Regional Program for the Elimination of Urban Rabies: Report on the Evaluation of the 1980-1989 Decade
In December 1983, at RIMSA 3, the Rabies Program Directors from the Latin American countries called together by PAHO/WHO agreed to establish the Regional Program for the Elimination of Urban Rabies in the major urban centers of Latin America, by the end of the 1980s. This document contains the PAHO Resolution followed by the report, which provides in detail the level of compliance with that objective, as well as an overall vision on how the regional strategies were developed.(25/Apr/1991)
In English (1586.35k)
en español (1698.21k)