28 April 2025. Asunción, Paraguay. - From April 21 to 25, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPBS), carried out a technical cooperation mission to strengthen the national response to HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, within the framework of the Disease Elimination Initiative.
During the mission, regional and national experts visited health services at all three levels of care, prisons, and civil society organizations. Significant progress was identified, includingthe technical commitment of PRONASIDA and PNTB staff, the adoption of innovative technologies and the implementation of strategies such as TelePrEP. Challenges remain in areas such as service integration, community engagement, and information management.
The PAHO technical team, led by Dr. Haydee Padilla, PAHO/WHO Representative in Paraguay, met with Paraguay's Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare, Dr. María Teresa Barán Wasilchuk, and the Deputy Minister of Health Governance and Surveillance, Dr. José Ortellado. During the meeting, Dr. Padilla highlighted the commitment of national health authorities and reaffirmed the PAHO's support for implementing concrete actions to accelerate progress toward eliminating these diseases.
The visit concluded with an agreement between the MSPBS and PAHO to launch a technical assistance plan aimed at strengthening primary care, expanding diagnostic and treatment coverage, and improving coordination between institutions and communities.
