Director of PAHO presents his 2023 Annual Report to the OAS, highlights achievements and challenges in health for the Americas – PAHO/WHO

Washington, DC, May 15, 2024 (PAHO) – The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Jarbas Barbosa, today presented his 2023 Annual Report to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), in Washington, DC The document reflects the achievements made in the region over the past year and highlights the persistent health challenges that require sustained collective efforts to overcome.

The report covers a transition period on several fronts, from the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic to post-pandemic recovery, and from emergency response to the implementation of lessons learned to revitalize health services.

The Director of PAHO highlighted the organization’s role over the last 120 years in supporting Member States to achieve international health standards and close gaps in access to medical care.

«The Americas continue to be a world leader in public health,» emphasized Dr. Barbosa, mentioning achievements such as the elimination of smallpox and polio, and the PAHO Regional Revolving Funds model for the purchase of vaccines, medicines and supplies. strategic.

However, despite the progress made in recent decades, «health remains an unfulfilled promise for many people in the Americas,» said the Director of PAHO, recalling that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated inequalities and affected negatively critical health indicators, such as vaccination rates.

It also highlighted a complex epidemiological panorama with the persistence of communicable diseases, the risk of outbreaks and epidemics, the increase in non-communicable diseases, the increase in maternal mortality rates, the impacts of climate change on health and the damage caused by violence in all countries. their forms.

Dr. Barbosa highlighted the need to «seize the opportunity to effectively address common health challenges and protect important regional achievements.» In this regard, he mentioned that PAHO is carrying out an ambitious initiative to eliminate more than 30 diseases, and the Americas are moving towards recertification as a measles-free region.

In addition, he proposed expanding local production capacity for medicines and vaccines, strengthening national health systems and guaranteeing adequate public spending on health. He also highlighted the importance of primary health care as the first line of defense against future pandemics.

«PAHO is committed to expanding access to health in every corner of the Americas,» said Dr. Barbosa, «but we cannot do it alone.»

The PAHO Director highlighted the need to position health at the center of development policies and promote collaboration between sectors. «Only through collaboration will we overcome persistent inequalities and build resilient health systems that can help us achieve universal health,» she emphasized.

Dr. Barbosa concluded by highlighting that «our success depends on applying the most important lesson of the COVID-19 pandemic: that health allows all progress,» and reaffirmed PAHO’s commitment as a strategic ally to improve the health and well-being of the populations in the region.