PAHO and Global Affairs Canada initiative strengthens the health of women and adolescents in situations of vulnerability in six countries of the Americas – PAHO/WHO

Washington, DC July 2, 2025 – A joint project of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the global issues of Canada is transforming health results for populations into situations of vulnerability in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Honduras and Peru. Through this association, the six countries have seen maternal and neonatal medical attention strengthened, the prevention of the most effective teenage pregnancy and the improved support for the survivors of gender violence.

The project, the best health of adolescent women and girls in situations of vulnerability, which ended at the end of June, aimed to improve the health results of these populations by increasing access to comprehensive, equitable, sensitive to gender, based on the rights and culturally appropriate; and promoting the empowerment and leadership of women and adolescents with respect to their health and rights.

During a meeting to close the project, held at Washington DC from June 2 to 3, the assistant director of the PAHO, Dr. Rhonda Sealey Thomas, reflected on the progress made during the four -year project. «Investing in the health and rights of women and adolescents is not only a moral imperative, but also a fundamental pillar of sustainable development,» he said. «When women and girls thrive, whole communities bloom.»

The meeting, which brought together representatives of local governments, communities, youth and indigenous populations and Afro -descendants of the countries involved, also highlighted the main achievements of the project. These include:

• More than 64,000 health workers trained in maternal and neonatal care, prevention of teenage pregnancy and response to gender violence:
• More than 130 protocols, regulations and technical guidelines developed to improve the quality of sexual and reproductive health services, taking into account cultural contexts;
• Strengthened information and surveillance systems, even through the implementation of the PAHO perinatal information system (SIP Plus);
• More than 9,000 women and adolescents participated in training and community decision making on sexual and reproductive rights.

«These figures reflect a collective effort,» said Canada’s ambassador to the organization of US states, Stuart Savage, during his speech at the closing meeting. «None of this would have been possible without the unwavering commitment of Paho and the interested parties of the project. His tireless efforts on the land and his collaborative approach to the health authorities have been the basis of success.»

The project, implemented between 2021 and 2024, was developed in response to persistent inequalities that affect the health of women and adolescents, particularly historically excluded groups, such as indigenous populations, Afro -descendants, low -income people or those living in rural areas continue to face greater loads of diseases, mortality and multiple barriers to access health services.

Other countries in the region are expected to also benefit from the lessons learned during the project, to strengthen the design, implementation and monitoring of integrated interventions to address sexual, reproductive and maternal health for women and adolescents among vulnerable population groups.

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