Country News

Only one focus of onchocerciasis (river blindness) persists in the Americas, on the border between Brazil and Venezuela. The disease is still present in 31 African countries and Yemen. Guatemala City, 8 December 2016 (PAHO/WHO)- A hundred years after Guatemalan ophthalmologist Rodolfo Robles established the causal relationship between…
Washington, D.C., 15 September 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - Jamaica is implementing a 10-year strategic plan to improve health and attain its vision of a healthy and stable population, Jamaican Minister of Health Dr. Christopher Tufton said today at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) during a presentation on the country's health situation, priority…
The country's hepatitis B elimination strategy includes testing and treatment for pregnant women and vaccination of newborns within the first 24 hours Yenny Antonio Leon is a 25-year-old mother from Huanta, Ayacucho, Peru, who was diagnosed with hepatitis B before having her baby. "When I found out, I felt terrible because I thought it was a…
Family and community health in local health units will be strengthened under a new project of $ 2.4 million, signed yesterday by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Washington, June 29, 2016 (PAHO/WHO) — Family and community health in local health units will be strengthened under a new project of $ 2.4…
Geneva, 23 May 2016 (PAHO/WHO) — "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides an opportunity to speed progress made in the fight against epidemics, as well as in tackling neglected and tropical diseases, and provides a framework for responding to new threats such as Zika", noted the Minister of Health of Argentina, Jorge Lemus, in his…
Geneva, 23 May 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - Panama has been designated as Vice-President of the 69th World Health Assembly, representing the Region of the Americas at the Assembly, which is taking place from 23 to 28 May in Geneva, Switzerland. The Minister of Health of Panama, Francisco Javier Terrientes, will be one of the five vice-presidents appointed…
Washington, DC, Atlanta, Panama City, May 19, 2016 (PAHO/WHO/CNLA/UNICEF) — "Calling all superheroes. This is not a drill. Our communities have been invaded by dangerous mosquitoes and we need help." With those words, Cartoon Network Latin America is launching "Mission Zika," an educational campaign to raise awareness about Zika in Latin America,…
Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, 11 May 2016. Doctors at the Port of Spain General Hospital announced that they have saved the life of a mother in her thirties who started bleeding after delivery using their newly acquired skills gained at a recent PAHO training on Post-Partum Haemorrhage (PPH). This training was held only one month ago (…
The "world's fastest man" lends his image and voice to support this year's Vaccination Week in the Americas Washington, DC, 20 April 2016 (PAHO/WHO) — Jamaican track superstar Usain Bolt has joined the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination in protecting health and preventing…