The theme of this year's World Health Day–“Invest in Health, Build a Safer Future”–reflects one of the most vital concerns of our times: How can we stay safe in a globalized world, where diseases can spread from one continent to another in mere hours? New and existing diseases threaten our health and security, and they ignore national borders. The threat of a global influenza pandemic remains real and the example of SARS is fresh in our minds. The epidemic of HIV/AIDS is another global phenomenon that adversely impacts not only the health but also the economy and stability of many countries. Although the burden can be greater for the developing world, epidemic-prone diseases are a growing threat to all nations.

While new and reemerging diseases represent a threat, there are other worries too. Natural disasters, chemical and nuclear accidents, climate change and its consequences, and bioterrorism all have the potential to affect international public health security. However, the same forces of globalization that allow pathogens to move freely around the world can also be used to build multinational partnerships to help us expand access to drugs and vaccines, improve public health infrastructure in developing countries, and launch better public health work force education programs worldwide.

Newly revised and broadened International Health Regulations, which will come into force next June, will provide for growing international cooperation leading to a more robust and transparent reporting of disease outbreaks and other threats to public health as well as control efforts. This international agreement urges Member States of the World Health Organization to focus their efforts in preventing and containing public health emergencies at its origin. To this end, they are required to maintain core surveillance and response capacities to detect, assess, report public health events, and intervene with public health measures. They are also encouraged to share information in a transparent way and to collaborate in solidarity among countries.

The Pan American Health Organization is well suited to face these daunting challenges. We have addressed and conquered myriad health threats for more than 100 years. The experience of the Organization in working with its member countries to strengthen local health systems and epidemiological surveillance will serve us well in this new era. It will also continue with its strong tradition of solidarity and Panamericanism. We are committed to incorporating newly available response methods and tools in partnership with public health agencies, regulatory agencies, policymakers, academic researchers and the private industry.

On World Health Day 2007, we in the Americas pledge to redouble our efforts to make health a top priority in the political agenda and to address the inequalities that exacerbate the vulnerability of our populations. This is the best way to guarantee not only our own security but the security of the world as a whole.

Dr. Mirta Roses
Director, Pan American Health Organization