Washington, D.C. PAHO HQ.
June 25-29, 2007.

The 140th Session of the Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization met this week at headquarters. During this period, the Executive Committee is comprised of the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America, and Uruguay, with Venezuela chairing this 140th session. Member States Argentina, Jamaica, Mexico, and Spain also participated as observers.

Representatives of different governmental organizations present during the meetings were the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Organization of American States.

Nongovernmental organizations also attending during the week included the Inter-American Sanitary and Environmental Engineering Association, the Latin American Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, the Medical Confederation of Latin America and the Caribbean, and United States Pharmacopeia.

The Director of PAHO and Secretary ex officio of the Committee, Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, was present throughout the sessions of the Executive Committee, accompanied by the directors of Executive Management, Dr. Cristina Beato, Deputy Director; Dr. Carissa Etienne, Assistant Director; and Mr. Michael A. Boorstein, Director of Administration.

The topics addressed during the meeting included important health projects for the Region:
Elimination of Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome in the Americas;;
Malaria in the Americas;
Regional Plan of Action for Human Resources for Health 2007-2015;
Safe Hospitals: A Regional Initiative on Disaster-Resilient Health Facilities;
Strategy for Strengthening Vital and Health Statistics in the Countries of the Americas;
Dengue Prevention and Control in the Americas; y,
Regional Policy and Strategy for Ensuring Quality of Health Care, Including Patient Safety..

The session opened with discussion of administrative projects of significance to the organization: the Interim Financial Report of the Director for 2006, the Proposed Program Budget for 2008-2009, and the Proposed Strategic Plan for 2008-2012.

These were the topics highlighted in the 140th Session of the Executive Committee of PAHO, an important meeting of the Organization's Governing Bodies preceding the 27th Pan American Sanitary Conference, scheduled for October 1-5. The Sanitary Conference is the Institution's foremost annual gathering that takes place at Regional Headquarters and is attended by the Ministers of Health of the Hemisphere. This year's agenda will also include the election of the new Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau for the next five years.

On Monday, Dr. Roses welcomed the members of the Executive Committee assembled for the week to discuss the resolutions presented. She outlined recommendations and modifications to consider in presenting these during the upcoming Pan American Sanitary Conference, which establishes commitments, priorities and policies on Pan American public health.

Candidate Forum

Once the meeting of the Executive Committee had concluded, the Candidate Forum was held to present aspirants to the post of Director of the Pan American Health Organization, as established by Resolution CD47.R4 of the 47th Directing Council. Argentina was the only Member State submitting a candidacy for Director of PAHO, proposing the re-election of Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, current Director of the Organization.

Achievements, Challenges and Leadership, is the subject Dr. Roses addressed during the presentation of her proposed candidacy to the accredited members of the Executive Committee of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau.

More information:
140th SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Candidate’s Forum. Dr. Mirta Roses' Presentation. June 29, 2007.
(Español) Logros, desafíos y liderazgo.
(English) Achievements, Challenges, and Leadership
(Português) Resultados, Desafios e Liderança
(Français) Réalisations, défis et leadership

For more information, please contact: Diaz, Eng. Katia (WDC), Director's Office Web Master.