Canada and PAHO Pledge to Heighten Strategic Cooperation

{mosimage}The Government of Canada and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) signed an agreement today to strengthen their joint action on global and regional health and development issues.

Geneva, 20 May 2010—The Government of Canada and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) signed an agreement today to strengthen their joint action on global and regional health and development issues.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Mirta Roses, PAHO Director, and Dr. Karen Dodds, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch, Health Canada (photo,) during the 63rd World Health Assembly in Geneva.

It calls for heightened and focused cooperation between PAHO and Canadian government agencies and nongovernmental organizations in priority areas including governance, health system strengthening, emerging and re-emerging diseases, chronic noncommunicable diseases, health of indigenous peoples, gender and human rights, and research for evidence-based decision making.

PAHO and Canada, led by Health Canada, will cooperate in these areas through the participation of Canadian representatives in PAHO governing body meetings; exchange of information, lessons learned and best practices through participation in policy dialogues, regional networks, conferences, and ongoing use of the PAHO-Canada portal; sharing of expertise through the provision of technical advice, exchange of specialists, scientists, and other health professionals from government departments and agencies, as well temporary assignments and secondment of staff, and internships; and joint preparation and publication of policy documents, strategies, and technical reports.

This will be done in cooperation with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States (OAS), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centers in Canada.
 

For more information please contact Donna Eberwine-Villagran, tel. +1 202 974 3122, Knowledge Management and Communication Area.