International Day of People of African Descent: PAHO Director calls for the promotion, protection and respect of their rights, including to health – PAHO/WHO

People of African descent are 2.5 times more likely to live in poverty and often face limited access to health services.

Washington, DC, August 30, 2024 (PAHO) — In commemoration of the International Day of People of African Descent, celebrated on August 31, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, calls on the countries of the Americas to promote, protect and respect the rights of people of African descent, including their right to health.

There are approximately 210 million people of African descent living in the Americas, representing 20% ​​of the population. However, the health needs of these groups are often neglected, leading to significant inequities.

A PAHO study published in 2021 on Afro-descendant populations in 18 Latin American countries showed that these groups live in extremely unequal social and economic conditions that affect their health. For example, Afro-descendant people are 2.5 times more likely to live in poverty and often face limited access to health services and higher rates of maternal and infant mortality.

“These inequities are rooted in historical exclusion, racism and discrimination, which contribute to poor health outcomes and perpetuate the precarious living conditions of a significant portion of this population,” said the PAHO Director in a video message to commemorate the International Day. “PAHO is committed to improving the health, health equity and well-being of people of African descent in the Americas,” he added.

PAHO Actions Against Racial Inequalities in Health

To address these concerns, in 2017 PAHO Member States approved the first Policy on Ethnicity and Health, and in 2019 the Strategy and Plan of Action on Ethnicity and Health 2019-2025. Through its implementation, PAHO provides technical support to countries to reduce inequalities and eliminate barriers to access to health services for people of African descent. Recently, PAHO organized three subregional consultations on health equity with people of African descent and, together with the Government of Brazil, a regional event on ethnic and racial inequalities in health.

The recommendations arising from these meetings underline the importance of generating evidence, exchanging good practices, adopting policies, empowering social participation and recognizing ancestral knowledge to improve the health of this population group.

“On this Day, PAHO calls on its Member States to continue promoting the Strategy and Plan of Action on Ethnicity and Health,” said Dr. Barbosa in his message. He reiterated the Organization’s commitment “to promote an intersectoral and intercultural approach with a focus on human rights, gender, and social determinants of health to achieve equity and well-being for all peoples of the Americas.”

The International Day for People of African Descent, celebrated on 31 August, recognises the contributions of the African diaspora around the world and seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent and protect their human rights, including the right to health.