Roses Reelected, New Health Priorities Set

Mirta Roses Periago was elected to a second term as director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) during the 27th Pan American Sanitary Conference, held Oct. 1-5 at PAHO headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Ministers of health from throughout the Americas cast their votes for Roses, who became the first woman director of PAHO upon her first election in 2002. In her acceptance speech, Roses said her second-term priorities would include the struggle for greater equity, the Millennium Development Goals, the HIV epidemic, and primary health care.

"I am well aware that this vote of confidence implies an enormous responsibility," Roses told delegates to the sanitary conference. "I thank you and accept the responsibility and honor that you have bestowed upon me. You may rest assured that, as I have done these past five years, I will devote myself fully and to the best of my ability to fulfilling this sacred mission."

Other highlights of the 27th Pan American Sanitary Conference included:

Rubella and congenital rubella syndrome. PAHO member countries pledged to complete the final stages of the elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome through vaccination and intensified surveillance. Delegates called for the creation of national commissions to verify elimination.

Malaria. PAHO member countries committed themselves to reducing the burden of malaria by 50 percent by the year 2010 and by 75 percent by 2015 through stronger health surveillance and monitoring and other stepped-up efforts in malaria control. They called for the establishment of an annual Malaria Day in the Americas to be observed every Nov. 6.

International health security. Countries called for strengthening the National Focal Points assigned to communicate with PAHO/WHO on outbreaks and other events covered by the new International Health Regulations. They agreed to develop national action plans by mid-2009 to strengthen core capacities required by the regulations.

Safe hospitals. The countries agreed to actively support the 2008-09 International Strategy for Disaster Reduction's safe hospitals campaign through partnerships, shared best practices, and national policies. They agreed to establish specific entities in their ministries of health charged with developing national disaster risk reduction programs.

Dengue. The delegates called for more resources and PAHO technical cooperation to implement the Integrated Management Strategy for dengue.They also called on PAHO to prepare a new regional plan for a timely response to dengue outbreaks, which have increased in the region in recent years.

Quality of care and patient safety. Health leaders agreed to place higher priority on patient safety and quality of care in health sector policies and programs, and to work with PAHO to develop an evidence-based regional strategy in this area.

Human resources for health. Countries agreed to consider developing national plans of action to strengthen the health workforce and to establish within their ministries of health specific structures responsible for the strategic direction of human resources planning and policies.

Vital and health statistics. Delegates endorsed a PAHO strategy for improving the quality of data and indicators in the region's health information systems and for expanding their coverage, as inputs for the design and monitoring of health policies.

PAHO budget. Delegates approved a $300 million budget for PAHO operations during 2008-09, including $22.3 million for communicable diseases, $14 million for chronic noncommunicable diseases, $13 million to promote healthier environments, and $18 million to strengthen health systems.

External auditor. The countries agreed to appoint the United Kingdom National Audit Office as the external auditor of PAHO accounts for 2008-09 and 2010-11.

PAHO Executive Committee. Delegates elected Bolivia, Mexico, and Suriname to serve as members of the PAHO Executive Committee for the next three years.