“Renewing the Essential Public Health Functions in the Americas: more necessary than ever to achieve health for all and protect everyone”

Universal Health Day (also known as Universal Health Coverage Day – UHC Day) is celebrated on December 12th every year, and is the annual rallying point for the growing movement for Universal Health to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to quality health services, when and where they need them, without exposing them to financial hardship.

The Region of the Americas has joined the global campaign every year, highlighting specific areas of interest for the Region. This year, the central theme of ‘Health for All: Protect Everyone” will be recognized through a webinar that will convene PAHO Member States, Academic Institutions, Civil Society and other relevant stakeholders around the critical importance of the Essential Public Health Functions.

Considering regional mandates to advance towards universal health within the context of evolving health emergencies, PAHO/WHO has led the renewal of the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF) in the Americas. The ongoing COVID-10 pandemic and previous public health emergencies in the Americas have demonstrated that inequitable and fragmented health systems that do not meet the needs of the population in normal times, cannot effectively address health needs during epidemics and other health emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed both strengths and weaknesses in health systems and, overall, the centrality of public health to advancing towards the achievement of universal health, to better respond to health emergencies and to safeguard equity in health.

Events

PAHO regional event:

During the celebration of Universal Health Day 2020,in addition to supporting the Global Campaign, the central regional event will be a webinar to launch the publication entitled “The Essential Public Health Functions in the Americas: A Renewal for the 21st Century”.

Schedule: Friday, December 11, 2020, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM (EST)

Primary audience: decision makers in policy formulation at all institutional levels, health teams, professionals from academic institutions and social movements

Languages: the event will be streamed in English and Spanish

Registration: ZOOM at https://bit.ly/35aXr6Y

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pahotv

This event is an opportunity to promote the implementation of the new EPHF framework at the country level.

This publication will be available here on 11 December, 2020

AGENDA

Welcome Remarks: Carissa F. Etienne. Director of the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO.
Renewal of Essential Public Health Functions in the America: James Fitzgerald, Director, Health Systems and Services, PAHO.
Analysis of Regional Experiences in the Essential Public Health Functions: Moderator: Jarbas Barbosa, Assistant Director, PAHO
- Essential Public Health Functions from the country perspectives: Background and lessons learned: Alejandra Acuña Navarro, Vice Minister of Health, Costa Rica.
- Essential Public Health Functions in the Caribbean: Background and lessons learned: Peter Adams, Dean Faculty Medical Sciences, Coordinator Public Health Programs, University of the West Indies.
- Essential Public Health Functions in Latin America: Background and strengthens of the new Essential Public Health Functions Framework to address the COVID-19 pandemic context: Ximena Aguilera, Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile.
Closing remarks: Ciro Ugarte, Director Health Emergencies Department, PAHO.

World Health Organization event:

Schedule: 11 December 2020, 14:00-15:25 H, CET

Link: https://www.who.int/campaigns/universal-health-coverage-day-2020

Primary audience: Donors/missions and key partners

Languages: The event will be streamed in the six official languages, recorded and posted on WHO UHC Day event page.

This event is an opportunity to:

Highlight major progress in countries, the challenges remaining and where WHO helps filling the gaps. Several countries from different regions will be part of the panel of speakers.
Underscore the urgent need, highlighted by the pandemic, to invest in Common Goods for health and in PHC-driven health systems.
Showcase WHO’s work with countries and its flagship programmes and forward-looking initiatives.

Community health workers in Dominica lead the fight against COVID-19

Why do Community Health Workers matter?

The urgent need for community health workers (CHW) became clear in 2017, when hurricane Maria devasted the island of Dominica and inflicted major damage on the health system. Nurses left the island and the remaining health staff became overwhelmed. A thorough post-hurricane assessment of the health system and its needs was conducted by PAHO/WHO with the aim to strengthen and rebuild.

Dominica has a long history in primary health care, with a focus on providing local health and social services to communities based on their needs. Read more ...

Colombia responds to COVID-19 with an intercultural health model

Building stronger health systems with the people

It was clear that the best way to reach the Wayúu people was through primary health care services, located close to home, that connect and appeal to their own culture. The department and the local health authorities agreed to promote primary health care adapted to the characteristics of the territory and the current situation, and with the effective participation of the community. Along with better infrastructure, equipment and medicines, there is a call for trained health personnel with deep personal knowledge of the local Wayuunaiki language and cultural practices.... Read more

Publication: The Essential Public Health Functions in the Americas: A Renewal for the 21st Century

Why do the Essential Public Health Functions need to be updated for the Americas?

This document presents work done to update the field of public health with a view to addressing the public health challenges of the Region of the Americas, with full, explicit use of the principles of equity in health as a cornerstone of this proposal.

This renewal of the EPHFs supports the objectives and spirit of the SDGs and the Strategy for Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage, by providing a guide... Read more...