Washington, DC, 20 March 2017 (PAHO/WHO) - The Ministry of Health and Social Services Quebec and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have signed an agreement to engage in joint action on health issues.
The accord calls for cooperation between the two parties in priority areas including health system strengthening, maternal and child health, and addressing the social determinants of health.
"The signing of this agreement is the beginning of a strong alliance based on common values and strategic vision," said PAHO/WHO Director Carissa F. Etienne during her meeting with Dr. Gaétan Barrette, Minister of Health and Social Services of Quebec. Also in the meeting were Sebastien Sigouin, alternate representative of the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States (OAS); other representatives of the Québec government; and other PAHO/WHO officials.
Barrette noted that PAHO/WHO and Quebec share "many common goals, including promoting equity in health, fighting disease and improving quality of life and life expectancy for the population."
Joint activities under the agreement will include training sessions and seminars, dissemination of strategic information, development of joint projects and the exchange of knowledge and experiences. It will also promote the creation of expert working groups in different areas to advance health in Quebec and the Americas. Actions will be based on a biannual work plan.
PAHO/WHO Deputy Director Isabella Danel stressed that "the agreement will be beneficial for our entire region."
Since joining PAHO in 1971, Canada has been a key strategic partner in promoting health in the Americas and one of PAHO's main donors supporting technical cooperation in health with Latin America and the Caribbean.
Currently, Canada's collaboration with PAHO/WHO enables countries in the Americas to strengthen their capacity to detect, evaluate and report public health events, as established in the International Health Regulations. Canada also contributes to the development of a Regulatory Exchange Platform, the preparation of the Caribbean health sector to deal with disasters and emergencies, and the development of integrated health systems in the region.
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