Mexico - Plans for Centennial Celebrations

Recepction Celebrates Centennial

A December 2 reception for some 250 guests honored PAHO's centennial and included the launching of a commemorative postal stamp. Participants included Mexican government officials, and representatives of international agencies. A week earlier, Mexico issued a special PAHO centennial lottery series.

Environmental Congress Honors PAHO

In October, the 28th Inter-American Congress on Sanitary and Environmental Engineering held a special session honoring the PAHO centennial, during which PAHO Director George Alleyne received a plaque in honor of the Organization's work.

Journalism Award in Public Health

On August 13, the PAHO country office in Mexico presented an award for "best article in public health 2002" to María Teresa del Riego for her article Trachoma in indigenous communities in Chiapas state: Blindness invades the tzeltales. Mrs. del Riego will represent Mexico in the Pan American Journalism Awards, organized by PAHO headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Del Riego 's article illustrates the problem of Trachoma, an eye infection, caused by a bacteria, leading to blindness. The bacteria can be found in rural communities where people live in overcrowded conditions and have limited access to clean water and health care.

The event took place at the Ministry of Health and Dr. Roberto Castañón Romo, Under Secretary of Institutional Relations, presented the award.

Awards Presented to PAHO in Mexico

On June 4, 2002, during the launch of the book "Models for the Implementation of Productive Projects on Health and Education in Latin America," Dr. Guillermo Soberón, President of FUNSALUD delivered a speech in which he recognized the centennial and PAHO's work in health promotion. FUNSALUD, Glaxo Smith Kline, and PAHO cosponsored the launch. The ceremony took place at the Secretariat of Health of Mexico.

On March, 14, 2002, during the celebration marking the 39th anniversary of the Inter-American Center for Social Security Studies, Dr. Alleyne received three plaques in honor of PAHO's centennial. The first one was presented by the Inter-American Conference of Social Security and its Department of Education, Training and Research. The second one, presented by the Costa Rican Fund of Social Insurance, was sent from San José, Costa Rica for the ceremony. The National Health Insurance Institute of Bolivia presented the third plaque.

That same day, many kind words were said about PAHO and its centennial during the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Mexican National Commission of Bioethics, and the commemoration of its founder, Dr. Manuel Velasco Suárez.

On March 13, 2002, in Cuernavaca, Morelos, during the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Mexican School of Public Health, the 15th Anniversary of the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) and the Centennial of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr. George A.O. Alleyne, PAHO Director, was presented with a Certificate of Merit in Public Health. The President of The United Mexican States, Mr. Vicente Fox Quesada and Dr. Julio Frenk Mora, Health Secretary of Mexico, were present.

During the same ceremony, Dr. Alleyne also received a plaque from President Fox in honor of PAHO's centennial recognizing PAHO's achievements and extraordinary efforts to improve the health of the people of the Americas.

Joint initiative launched by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, FUNSALUD, and PAHO

In honor of the Pan American Health Organization centennial year, one floor of the Science Museum - UNIVERSUM at the National Autonomous University of Mexico has been dedicated to health and is called "The Health Corner". The museum is visited daily by 700 - 2000 children and young people accompanied by professors or parents. The Health Corner was inaugurated in November 2001, during a public ceremony with the participation of Dr. George A.O. Alleyne, PAHO's Director. The UNAM, FUNSALUD and PAHO cosponsor this project.

In order to promote PAHO's centennial an interactive module on PAHO was setup, with software developed specifically for the exhibit, so that the visitors can learn about the Organization, what it is, and what it does. The module contains the most updated information on health through the use of videotapes, public addresses and weekly press releases. The content and the form of the software are designed for children and adolescents.

Publication of the book on 100 years of the PAHO/WHO technical cooperation in Mexico

The Academy of the History of Medicine of Mexico is preparing a commemorative book with the support of prominent physicians. The book will tell the story of the history of public health in the country in the last 100 years (1902- 2002), and will be launched during the second half of 2002.

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