Concluye la 174ª Sesión del Comité Ejecutivo de la OPS con la aprobación de resoluciones para fortalecer la salud en las Américas – OPS/OMS

Washington, DC, June 28, 2024 (PAHO) – The 174th session of the Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) concluded yesterday after four days of deliberations, where the representatives of the nine Member States that make up this governing body and observers addressed a critical agenda for regional public health.

PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa highlighted the achievements made during the session: “We have successfully addressed 48 agenda items, including the approval of 16 resolutions, the review of three progress reports and five final reports.” In addition, Dr. Barbosa called for renewing the commitment to the Pan American values ​​of equity, excellence, solidarity, respect and integrity.

Among the main points is the approval of the Action Plan to strengthen health information systems, essential to expand and strengthen these structures at the national and subnational levels. This plan prioritizes digital health and covers areas such as immunization, epidemiological surveillance, and communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Also addressed was a strategy and action plan to reduce the burden of sepsis and a policy to strengthen equity-led health sector action around climate change and health. This policy aims to strengthen the sector’s capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change and reduce health inequities.

A policy on long-term care and a strategy to strengthen essential public health functions were also discussed, with a focus on accelerating the transformation of health systems and adopting a comprehensive approach to primary care.

Member States reaffirmed their commitment to tobacco control in the region in the debate on the strategy and action plan to accelerate the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. In addition, a strategy for integrating surgical care and intensive and emergency care, as well as another strategy on epidemic intelligence to strengthen early warning of health emergencies, were validated.

The PAHO Executive Committee, composed of nine Member States elected for a three-year term, meets twice a year and serves as a working group for the Pan American Sanitary Conference and the PAHO Directing Council. The 16 approved resolutions will now be discussed and approved by the 35 PAHO Member States, who will meet from September 30 to October 4, 2024 in Washington, during the meeting of the Organization’s Directing Council.