PAHO's COVID-19 Response in the Region
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted communities all over the world. From its Washington, D.C., headquarters, 27 country offices, and three specialized centers in the region, PAHO/WHO led the efforts in the region to support the countries in preventing, detecting, and responding to the emergency.
In addition to monitoring the response, PAHO/WHO also covers the procurement of supplies and works to make sure access to COVID-19 vaccines is guaranteed for every eligible person. Latin America and the Caribbean need more vaccines now to save lives and prevent future waves. Support PAHO's efforts to fight COVID-19 in the Americas, help us save lives and reduce the impact of COVID-19.
Some of the ways PAHO/WHO is responding in the Region of the Americas:
Campaign supported by Canada’s CanGIVE Initiative
Port-Au-Prince, November 20, 2023 (PAHO) - Over the past few years, persistent political, humanitarian, health, and security crises have contributed to a sharp decline in vaccination coverage in Haiti.
Urban violence and population displacement have helped generate an increase in the number of…
Port of Spain, 05 October 2023 (PAHO/WHO) - Despite vaccination efforts, COVID-19 remained a major global public health threat, emphasizing the critical role of timely SARS-CoV-2 detection through testing, including antigen-detecting rapid tests (Ag-RDTs), in case identification, isolation, contact tracing, and decision-making support.
During…
New WHO and UNICEF data show promising signs of immunization services rebounding in some countries. In the Americas, countries have managed to halt the fall in coverage
GENEVA/NEW YORK, 18 July 2023 – Global immunization services reached 4 million more children in 2022 compared to the previous year, as countries stepped up efforts to address…
Microbiologist Soany Avilez was delighted when she was selected to implement genomic sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in Honduras. In the wake of the pandemic, in 2020, she began working at the National Virology Laboratory performing PCR tests for COVID-19 diagnosis. At that time, genomic sequencing to detect variants…
Suriname, June 19, 2023 (PAHO/WHO) – In response to a request from the Ministry of Health (MoH) in December 2022, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has partnered with the MoH to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the National Immunization Program (NIP) in Suriname. This evaluation aims to assess the…
Suriname, June 13, 2023 (PAHO/WHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is pleased to announce the successful handover of a generous donation to the Medical Mission in Suriname. This donation, made possible through funds provided by the Canadian Government, aimed to bolster the access and provision of COVID-19 vaccines to communities in…
Geneva, May 8, 2023- The Emergency Committee on COVID-19 met for the 15th time on 4 May 2023, and issued a statement on 5 May advising the WHO Director-General that it is time to transition to long-term management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Director-General accepted the Committee’s advice that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health…
Washington D.C., 21 April 2023.- The Government of Canada and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) are collaborating to strengthen manufacturing capacities to increase the safe and timely access to vaccines in countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Through C$ 15 million (US$ 11.1 million) funding provided by Global Affairs Canada (…
Washington D.C. 9 March 2023 – As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year in the Region of the Americas, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has called on countries to strengthen surveillance and bridge gaps in vaccination coverage to end the emergency and better prepare for future health crises.
Over the…