Washington, DC, June 28, 2019 (PAHO/WHO) - The Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) concluded its 164th session on June 27, following discussions and deliberations on a variety of strategies, actions plans and policies that address a number of key health challenges for the population in the Americas.
Issues that were advanced during the Committee include: strategies and action plans to improve quality of care in health service delivery; to ensure donations and equitable access to organ, tissue and cell transplants; on ethnicity and health; and on health promotion within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Executive Committee also addressed issues around the elimination of industrially produced trans-fatty acids, and the strengthening of information systems for health, as well as a PAHO disease elimination initiative for an integrated approach to communicable disease.
Representatives from the nine Member States that compose the Executive Committee - Barbados; Belize, Brazil, Canada, Colombia; Ecuador, Panama, Peru and United States, also considered final reports including on adolescent and youth health and active and healthy aging. They also considered progress reports on elimination of neglected infectious diseases; chronic kidney disease in agricultural communities in Central America; and sustainability of measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome elimination, among other topics.
The deliberations of the Committee will determine the final agenda to be addressed during the 57th Directing Council that will take place September 30 to October 4 this year.
The Executive Committee functions as a working group of the Pan American Sanitary Conference and the Directing Council of PAHO. It is composed of nine Member States elected by the Pan American Sanitary Conference or the Directing Council of PAHO to serve for three-year periods. It meets twice a year or more frequently if there is a special request of the Director of PAHO or at least three Member States.
