Ceremony honored PAHO Centennial

The Ministry of Health organized a special December 2 ceremony at its offices in honor of the PAHO centennial. The event was hosted by Minister of Health Javier Torres Goitia Caballero and attended by some 200 guests.

The same day, the City of La Paz inaugurated a new PAHO Centennial Plaza in the neighborhood of Sopocachi, near PAHO's country office.

In August, Bolivia's Ministry of Defense decorated PAHO with the order of Mariscal Andrés de Santa Cruz, and the Bolivian Armed Forces awarded the Organization with the Colonel Eduardo Avaroa Military Merit.

The PAHO centennial was also commemorated in a new book, History of Public Health in Bolivia, and in a special issue of the Journal of the Bolivian Society of Public Health.

Recognition to PAHO in the National Congress of Sanitary Engineering

During the inauguration of the IX National Congress of Sanitary Engineering, in the city of Oruro on 3 September, PAHO received a medal of distinction and a memorial plaque in celebration of the Organization's centennial.

The award was presented by the Executive President of the Congress, Eng. Fernando Zubieta, in the presence of the Executive Committee of the Congress, authorities of the Bolivian Association of Sanitary Engineering, and other international agencies. The medal was presented to Eng. Diego Daza, representing Dr. José Antonio Pagés, PAHO/WHO representative in Bolivia.

During his remarks, the executive president of the Congress emphasized the contributions of PAHO to public health in Bolivia, in particular to environmental health. Mr. Daza thanked the Congress for the distinction, and presented an historical outline of PAHO cooperation in environmental health in the country, which dates back to 1911.

National race celebrates PAHO centennial

A national 10k race "For A Healthy Bolivia" was held on Sunday, September 1st, marking the beginning of "Youth Month" and of spring. The event was promoted by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Bolivian Federation of Athletics.

Athletic champions representing the different departments of the country and young people participated in the race, a sports festival intended to commemorate the 100 years of the Pan American Health Organization. The event received broad coverage in the media.

The men's winner was Moisés Ciprian, of the department of Oruro. He ran the 10 kilometers in 29 minutes, 19 seconds. The women's winner was Beatriz Quispe, of Potosí. Quispe ran the distance in 35 minutes and 22 seconds.

Launching of "History of the Public Health in Bolivia"

The commemorative book "History of the Public Health in Bolivia" was launched on 28 August 2002, at a community center in the city of La Paz. The event was attended by authorities representing the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Society of Public Health and the National Congress.

Dr. Gregorio Mendizábal, former PAHO/WHO consultant and author of the book, praised and thanked the Organization for the invaluable cooperation provided in Bolivia. Furthermore, in his remarks, Dr. José Antonio Pagés, PAHO/WHO representative, pointed out the importance of the book--inspired by the need to review the historical processes of Public Health in Bolivia--for the sake of rediscovering past events, remembering past experiences and assessing the importance of adopted policies. He also mentioned the satisfaction PAHO feels to have been part of this history from 1911 to today.

In the same act, the Bolivian Society of Public Health presented issue 56 of its Journal,  devoted  to the work of PAHO in Bolivia.

On "Indigenous Peoples Day", PAHO's work is recognized

On August 2, "Indigenous Peoples Day", Ms. Tomasa Yarhui, Bolivia's Minister for Indigenous People, called a special press conference to thank the Pan American Health Organization for its cooperation with the South American country.

At the conference, Vice-Minister Paulino Guarachi Huanca presented the PAHO/WHO Representative with a "Certificate of Honor" highlighting the Organization's work in its first centennial.

Bolivia launched stamp honoring the centennial

On Friday 26 April 2002, the Main Hall of the Honorable Municipal Council of La Paz was the setting for the official presentation of the commemorative stamp in honor of the centennial of the Pan American Health Organization. The emission was supported by the Postal Service Company of Bolivia (ECOBOL). In his remarks, Edgar Prudencio, president of ECOBOL, emphasized the importance of the stamp in that it constitutes the official recognition of the valuable contributions of PAHO on behalf of the Americas and Bolivia.

Dr. José Antonio Pagés, PAHO/WHO representative in Bolivia, emphasized the importance of the new postal stamp for to Bolivian and international philately.

50,000 copies of the commemorative stamp were published and the first day 3,000 envelopes were issued with the signatures of both Mr. Prudencio and Dr. Pagés.

City hall of La Paz grants PAHO the Coat-of-Arms of the City

In the Consistorial Palace Room of Honor of the Municipal City Hall of La Paz, the president of the Municipal Council of this city granted PAHO, in honor of its centennial, the Coat-of-Arms of the City of Our Mrs. de La Paz, in the degree of Distinguished Services. Dr. José Antonio Pagés, PAHO/WHO Representative in Bolivia, upon thanking as important distinction reiterated the purpose of the Organization in order to continue to support the efforts of the Bolivian people to improve its health conditions.

The event had the participation of national and departmental authorities, staff members of the Organization, special guests and Dr. George A. O. Alleyne, Director of PAHO, who on this same occasion received the designation of Illustrious Host of the City of La Paz.

Highest Bolivian Decoration Given to PAHO

The Bolivian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, awarded the Pan American Health Organization the Condor of the Andes in honor of the celebration of its centennial. The official decree states that this medal is the highest decoration granted by Bolivia to people and organizations in recognition of their contributions to the country.

The ceremony took place in Sucre on Tuesday, the 23rd of April in the assembly hall of the department's offices, with partcipation of national and departamental authorities, Andean health ministers, and special guests. During his remarks, Dr. George Alleyne thanked the Bolivian government for this honor and emphasized the high level of cooperation and collaboration between Bolivia and PAHO. He commited himself to strengthening this relationship for the improvement of the Bolivian people's health, especially in the most impoverished areas.

The Centennial Celebrations are launched in Bolivia!

On January 30, 2002, using the slogan "For a Healthy Bolivia" the Centennial celebrations were launched in Bolivia. The keynote address by Dr. George Alleyne, Director of PAHO, was given a hearty round of applause. After the presentations by the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religion, Mr. Fernando Rojas Alaiza, and the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Enrique Paz Argandoña, the Representative of PAHO in Bolivia, Dr. José Antonio Pagés, presented the year-long program of events that celebrate the centennial from January until December 2002.

The Vice Minister of Gender, Generational and Family Matters presented Dr. José Antonio Pagés, with a commemorative plaque in honor of PAHO's centennial and all the support provided by the representation to the country since its founding.

Centennial District in Bolivia

Another initiative in honor of PAHO's 100th anniversary is under way in the city of El Alto, in the Department of La Paz, Bolivia. The El Alto municipal government and PAHO have together launched a project to assist poor urban families in what has been named the Distrito Centenario OPS, or PAHO Centennial District.

The objective of the initiative is to improve health and the quality of life for the urban population of this zone.

Bolivia - Plans for Centennial Celebrations

January	30: Journalist working breakfast for presentation of the Centennial activities. Promotional visits to media outlets to distribute press material	Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and PAHO
	30: Mass media campaign with informative material	Ministries of Information and of Health
February	20: Awarding of "Orden de la Salud"	Ministry of Health
	28: Presentation of Public Policies for the Indigenous Women (lowlands and highlands)	Ministry of Rural Matters, Ministry of Health, and Vice-Ministry of Gender
March	8: Celebration of the International Day of Women	Vice-Ministry of Gender Matters
April	1 to 5: Mass media Campaign	Ministries of Information and of Health, PAHO
	8: Presentation of the Commemorative Stamp in honor of the PAHO centennial	ECOBOL-Ministry of Health
	8 and for two weeks: Stamp Exhibit in commemoration of the Centennial	ECOBOL-Ministry of Health
	To be determined: Proclamation of World Health Day. Awarding of the "Condor of the Andes" Prize to PAHO	Ministry of Foreign Affairs
	20: Naming of the Municipal Governments that have attained the highest level of investment for health	Vice-Ministry of Strategic Planning and Popular Participation
	20: Naming of the Municipal Governments that achieved the highest coverage in the Basic Health Insurance	Vice-Ministry of Strategic Planning and Popular Participation
May	10: Journalist Award for Excellence in Public Health Reporting (Journalist's Day)	Journalist Association
	25: Centennial Essay and Poster Contest Awards
June	1 to 10: Departmental Marathons	9 Headquarters
July	1 to 10: Presentation of the books: "History of Public Health" and a "Public Health Journal"	Ministry of Health, Bolivian Health Public Society
August	8: Presentation of a Special Issue of the Journal of the Medical School and Bibliographic Exhibit (Book Fair) of the National Medical School Collection	National Medical School
	9: Proclamation by the Municipal Government of La Paz of the Order Pedro Domingo Murillo (International Day of the Indigenous Peoples)	Municipal City Hall of La Paz
	12: International Day of the Indigenous Peoples: Recognition of Indigenous Women Leaders	Ministry of Rural Matters, Peoples, and Vice-Ministry of Gender Matters
	20: Plaza de la Salud Nomination	Municipal City Hall of La Paz
September	2 to 8: Mass media Campaign	Ministries of Information and of Health
	15: Announcement of the selection of the Public Health Heroes and Champions of Health	Ministry of Health and PAHO
October	14: Unveiling Commemorative Plaques	VIEDMA/Cochabamba Hospital Complex
November	All month: Open air band concerts for health promotion	Military Bands in 9 department capitals
December	2: PAHO Centennial Celebration	PAHO
	13: Evaluation of the PAHO Centennial year	Municipal City Hall of El Alto - Department of La Paz

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