Washington, D.C., 20 July 2026 (PAHO) - The Network on Essential Public Health Functions to Strengthen Stewardship and Governance (RedFESP) welcomed Belize as a new member country during the second virtual seminar in its series dedicated to exchanging experiences on the implementation and institutionalization of Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs). The announcement was made during the opening session of the meeting and marks another step forward in consolidating this regional platform for cooperation and mutual learning among countries.
The seminar brought together representatives from Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay. On this occasion, authorities from El Salvador, Panama, and Peru shared their national experiences in advancing the institutionalization of EPHFs, including mechanisms for assessment, planning, monitoring, and continuous improvement integrated into health system management and strengthening processes.
During the opening session, RedFESP President Iritzel Santamaría, Deputy Director of Health Planning of Panama, highlighted the value of collaboration among countries in advancing this agenda. “Each country contributes from its own institutional reality, bringing forward its achievements, challenges, and solutions. These contributions help build the path toward the institutionalization of EPHFs and strengthen our shared approach based on cooperation and mutual learning,” she said.
The experiences presented helped identify progress, challenges, and good practices for strengthening the implementation and institutionalization of EPHFs across diverse contexts. These exchanges are part of a systematization process led by RedFESP to support the development of a regional document currently under preparation.
At the close of the seminar, Ernesto Báscolo, Chief of PAHO’s Primary Health Care and Integrated Service Delivery Unit, expressed that the presentations reflected diverse institutional realities and trajectories. He also highlighted the value of the materials generated by countries to strengthen governance, stewardship, and the institutionalization of Essential Public Health Functions across the Region.
About RedFESP
RedFESP is an initiative promoted by the Member States of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) aimed at strengthening public health stewardship and governance through the implementation, assessment, and institutionalization of Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs).
