Regional meeting: Addressing ethnic-racial inequalities in health / Brasilia, 3-5 July 2024

Regional meeting: Addressing ethnic-racial inequalities in health / Brasilia, 3-5 July 2024
Web banner

 Context

In 2017, following an extensive consultation process with Indigenous leaders, Afro-descendants and members of other ethnic groups, PAHO Member States unanimously approved the first Policy on Ethnicity and Health. The policy includes five priority strategic lines of action to improve the health situation of different ethnic groups in the region: production of evidence; promotion of policy action; social participation and strategic partnerships; recognition of ancestral knowledge and traditional and complementary medicine; and capacity development at all levels.

As a follow-up, in 2019, the first Strategy and action plan on ethnicity and health 2019-2025 was approved, with specific indicators to measure progress in the countries on the health situation of these populations. In June 2023, during the 172nd Session of the PAHO Executive Committee, a progress report on the Strategy and Action Plan presented, which showed that more progress is needed regarding the indicators of the five strategic lines of action and their respective objectives.

Brazil, characterized by its multiethnic composition, is an ideal setting to promote this regional meeting between countries. Also, in May 2023, during the 76th World Health Assembly, Brazil proposed, to the World Health Organization, a resolution on the Health of Indigenous Peoples, which was unanimously approved by all WHO Member States. In December 2023, the anti-racist strategy for health was promoted in the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Moreover, Brazil also assumes the presidency of the G20 and will host the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Conference of the Parties, UNFCCC COP30).

 Objectives

Exchange experiences between countries on the implementation of actions in the five lines strategic of the Policy and Strategy and Action Plan on Ethnicity and Health 2019-2025, in order to advance the implementation of actions to promote ethnic and racial equity in health within the framework of the PAHO Strategy and Action Plan.

 Date

3-5 July 2024

Where

Brasilia (Brasil). OPS headquarters

 Type

In-person

  Agenda                  wednesday, 3 July 2024


9:00-10:00

Welcome remarks

Nisia Veronica Trindade Lima, Ministry of Health, Brazil
Swendeberger Nascimento Barbosa, Executive Secretary, Ministry of Health, Brazil
Weibe Tapeba, Secretary of Indigenous Health, Ministry of Health, Brazil
Alexandre Pena Ghisleni, Special Advisor for International Affairs
Indigenous and/or Afro-descendant leader
Elisa Prieto Lara, PAHO Brazil's acting representative
Gerry Eijkmans, Director, Departament of Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity, PAHO


10:00-10:35

Meeting introduction, objectives and agenda

Jessie Schutt-Ainé, Chief, Unit of Equity, Gender, Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, PAHO


 


10:50-11:00

Strategy and Action Plan on Ethnicity and Health 2019-2025

Presentation of Policy on Ethnicity and Health, Strategy and Action Plan 2019 - 2025: progress in 2023 progress report

Sandra del Pino, Cultural Divertisy advisor, PAHO


11:00-13:00

Session 1. Strategic Action Line 1: Generation of Evidence

Panel and dialog: Experiences in the Region of the Americas for the generation of health evidence from ethnic groups.

Moderated by:
Normal Gil, PAHO


14:00-15:30

Session 2. Strategic Action Line 2: Promoting action on policies for access to universal health

Panel and dialog: Experiences in the Region of the Americas to promote policies, plans and strategies that contribute to universal access to health for Indigenous Peoples, Afro descendants and others.

Moderated by:
Ana Sena, PAHO
Gabriel Emilker Cuatin, RJILAC


16:00-17:30

Session 3. Strategic Action Line 3: Social participation and strategic alliances

Panel y dialog: Experiences in the Region of the Americas in promoting social participation and strategic alliances to improve the health of ethnic groups.

Moderated by:
Tatiana Santos, PAHO
Hellen Pintos


17:30-17:40

Key messages of the day

Jessie Schutt-Ainé, Chief, Unit of Equity, Gender, Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, PAHO
Elisa Prieto, PAHO Brazil's acting representative
Akemi Kamimura, PAHO Brazil


17:40-18:00

Exchange space between participants

  Agenda                  thursday, 4 July 2024


8:30-9:00

Traditional opening of the day

Leaders of Indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples


9:00-9:15

Summary of the previous day

Elisa Prieto, PAHO Brazil's acting representative
Akemi Kamimura, PAHO Brazil


9:15-10:45

Social determination of health in the context of Brazil / the Americas

Luis Eduardo Batista
Other countries


11:00-13:00

Session IV. Strategic Action Line 4: Recognition of ancestral knowledge and traditional and complementary medicine

Panel y dialog: Experiences in the Region of the Americas to recognize ancestral knowledge, traditional medicine and its references.

Moderators:
Norman Gil, PAHO
Marcela Perez, GTM


14:00-15:30

Continuation of the dialogue regarding the Line 4. 


15:45-17:00

Session 5. Strategic Action Line 5: Development of capabilities at all levels

Panel y dialog: Experiences in the Region of the Americas for capacity development at all levels.

Moderator:
Ana Sena, PAHO


17:00-17:30

Key messages of the day

Jessie Schutt-Ainé, Chief, Unit of Equity, Gender, Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, PAHO
Elisa Prieto, PAHO Brazil's acting representative
Akemi Kamimura, PAHO Brazil

Agenda                  friday, 5 July 2024


8:30-9:00

Traditional opening

Summary of the previous day:

Elisa Prieto, PAHO Brazil's acting representative
Akemi Kamimura, PAHO Brazil


9:00-12:30

Presentation of recommendations prior consultations and dialogue

Moderators:
Tatiana Santos, PAHO
Teresa Mojica

Recommendations towards the Caribbean DPAD: Jessie Schutt-Ainé, PAHO
Recommendations from Brasil
Recommendations from the consultation in Mexico: Gabriel Emilker Cuatin, RJIALC
Recommendations from consultations towards DPAD Subregional SA y CAM: Samuel Samuels

Plenary exchange: Recommendations for each strategic line


14:00-15:30

Plenary exchange: General recommendations to present to Governing Bodies

Moderators:
Normal Gil, PAHO
Ana Sena, PAHO


16:00-16:30

Next steps towards 2025

Sandra del Pino, PAHO


16:30-17:00

Final messages and conclusions

Jessie Schutt-Ainé, Chief, Unit of Equity, Gender, Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, PAHO


17:00

Closing words and traditional closure