Washington, D.C., 1 October 2019—The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, and the executive secretary of the Council of Ministers of Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic (COMISCA), Alejandro Solis Martinez, have signed an agreement to improve the health of countries in the Central American Integration System (SICA).

La Directora de la OPS, Carissa F. Etienne, y el secretario ejecutivo del Consejo de Ministros de Salud de Centroamérica y República Dominicana (COMISCA), Alejandro Solís Martínez, firmaron un acuerdo de cooperación con el fin de mejorar la salud de la población de los ocho países que conforman ese sistema de integración subregional
PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne, El Salvador Minister of Health Ana Orellana Bendek, executive secretary of the Council of Ministers of Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic (COMISCA) Alejandro Solís Martínez, and Honduras Minister of Health Alba Consuelo Flores.

The 2019-2025 Health Cooperation Strategy for Central America aims to guide PAHO’s technical cooperation within this sub-region over the next six years. It covers five strategic priorities for health in the region: 1) strengthening governance in the health sector within the framework of social protection and advancing toward universal health, 2) comprehensive management and development of human resources for health, 3) collaborative intersectoral efforts to promote health, human security, and well-being by addressing social determinants of health, 4) strengthened country capacity to respond to public health emergencies, and 5) improved knowledge management for health surveillance, research and technology.

The agreement, which was signed in parallel to the 57th Directing Council of PAHO, was developed based on sub-regional priorities, through consultations with health officials in all the participating countries, SICA institutions, UN agencies and other partners.

The Ministers of Health of Honduras, Alba Consuelo Flores, and El Salvador, Ana Orellana Bendek, also participated in the signing of the agreement.