Launch of the virtual course on sexual health for professionals at the first level of care
Date: 4 September 2025
Time: 9:15 – 9:45 (EDT) 14:15 – 14:45 (Portugal)
Simultaneous interpretation into English, Spanish and Portuguese
Background
Sexual health is a fundamental aspect for the overall health and well-being of individuals, couples, and families, as well as for the economic and social development of communities and countries. On World Sexual Health Day, September 4, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Association for sexual Health (WAS) are launching this course available on PAHO's Virtual Campus for Public Health, free of charge and available only in Spanish. Sexual health, considered affirmatively, requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, without coercion, discrimination or violence.
Purpose
The purpose is to launch the course that seeks to provide health professionals at the first level of care with the basic tools to understand this concept and identify different aspects of sexual health.
Course objectives
- Recognize the importance of sexual health in the integral well-being of people and its link with sexual rights.
- Underscore the importance of effective communication on sexual health issues between health care providers and health care users, both in face-to-face consultation and in community interactions.
- Learn the evolution of sexuality throughout the life course in order to be able to properly care for people, regardless of their age.
- Familiarize primary health care professionals with the concerns, complaints, and problems that may most frequently arise in the consultation.
- Integrate professional work, good treatment, and the prevention and clinical management of sexual violence as an essential component of the full well-being of service users, regardless of their demographic and cultural characteristics. Take initiatives to prevent, contain, interrupt and report sexual violence.
Course audience
The course is aimed at health personnel at the first level of care (interprofessional team).
Assessment and certification
The final exam is designed to offer participants multiple opportunities to answer correctly until they obtain the necessary score of at least 80%.
Agenda
Moderator: Rodolfo Gómez Ponce de León, Advisor on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Women’s Maternal, Neonatal and Reproductive Health, PAHO
Opening remarks
- Esther Corona, Vice President, World Association for sexual Health (WAS)
- Suzanne Serruya, Unit Chief, Women’s Maternal, Neonatal and Reproductive Health, PAHO
Presentation of the virtual course on sexual health for professionals at the first level of care: content, competencies and references
- Verónica Fiol, consultant, Women’s Maternal, Neonatal and Reproductive Health, PAHO
Visit to the PAHO Virtual Campus for Public Health
- Carlos León, Specialist, Virtual Collaboration e-Learning, Instructional Design, Virtual Campus for Public Health, PAHO
Closing remarks
- Rodolfo Gómez Ponce de León, Advisor on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Women’s Maternal, Neonatal and Reproductive Health, PAHO