News from PAHO http://www.paho.org/ The latest public health news from the Pan American Health Organization. en-us Copyright 2005 PAHO/WHO. All Rights Reserved. Hemisphere's Health Authorities Open Annual Sessionhttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080929.htmThe ministers of health of all the countries of the Americas opened their annual meeting today, electing Brazil's Health Minister, Dr. Jose Gomes Temporao as President of the Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).PAHO Joins Clinton Global Initiative to Save Mothers' and Children's Liveshttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080926a.htmThe Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced a new program of proven, low-cost interventions for maternal and child health that will benefit 750,000 pregnant women and 1.5 million children under 2 in 10 Latin American countries.Hemisphere's Health Authorities to Gather at PAHOhttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080926.htmThe ministers of health of all the countries of the Americas will gather for the annual meeting of the Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The opening session will take place Monday, Sept. 29, at 9 a.m.WHO/PAHO supports health response to Hurricane Ike in Cubahttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080917.htmCuban medical facilities have been extensively damaged by extreme weather events in recent weeks, jeopardizing health care delivery in the country's west. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has secured US$524 000 to re-equip health facilities and provide maternal and child health care in Pinar del Rio province and on Isla de la Juventud, off the southern coast.Anticipation High in Brazil for Opening of World Congress of Epidemiologyhttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080915.htmOfficials from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) underscored the importance of Brazil serving for the first time as the venue for the World Congress of Epidemiology, which focuses on the role of epidemiology in meeting health challenges of the 21st Century.WHO, partners launch appeal for $4.2 million for health response for hurricane-hit Haitihttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080912.htmThe World Health Organization and partners urgently need US$ 4.2 million to provide health care for many of the 800 000 people - including children and pregnant women - affected by successive tropical storms in Haiti. Rabies in humans is 100% preventable through prompt appropriate medical care but more than 55,000 people die each yearhttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080909.htmDespite a reduction by 90% in human and canine cases in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization says that more coordinated action is needed at all levels to work together with clear determination and help make rabies history. World Rabies Day 2008 will take place September 28th.Caribbean public health authorities propose to eliminate vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis by 2015http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080807b.htmPublic health authorities, HIV and Maternal and Child Health experts concluded that it is feasible to eliminate the vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis in the Caribbean by 2015.PAHO: We can avoid the extinction of another endangered heritagehttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080807.htmThe commemoration of International Day of Indigenous Peoples 2008 on August 9, which PAHO joins in full support, always serves as a reminder of all historical vicissitudes that those groups have undergone throughout centuries.PAHO praises Brazil for passing new legislation on alcohol and drivinghttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080731.htmOn behalf of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Director, Dr. Mirta Roses, praised Brazil and congratulated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for recently promulgated legislation on driving and alcohol that sets an example and represents a true model for the Americas to follow with regards to road safety and the prevention of deaths and injuries in the hemisphere.Mother Support Maximizes Life-saving Benefits of Breastfeedinghttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080731a.htmExclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life is the best and most cost-effective intervention to provide newborns with the nutrients they need, and to improve infant and children survival rates.UN: Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean should improve, expand sexuality educationhttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080731c.htmCountries in Latin America and the Caribbean should improve and expand sexuality education programmes in order to prevent HIV and AIDS and reduce the impact of the epidemic in the region, a group of United Nations agencies said today.U.N. Experts Warn on New Threats to MDG Progress in Latin America and the Caribbeanhttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080725.htmTop United Nations experts on Latin America and the Caribbean warned this week that global economic shocks could throw some 16 million people of the Americas into extreme poverty, threatening important gains toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the region.Medical Professionals Worldwide Endorse WHO Checklist for Safer Surgeryhttp://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr080626.htmA new safety checklist for surgical procedures developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) won the endorsements of nearly 250 health organizations from over 40 countries at a launching event yesterday at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington, D.C.