Washington, D.C., June 28, 2024 (PAHO) - The 174th session of the Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) concluded yesterday after four days of deliberations, where representatives of the nine Member States that make up this governing body, and observers, addressed a critical agenda for public health in the region.
"We have successfully addressed 48 agenda items, including the approval of 16 resolutions, the review of three progress reports, and five final reports," PAHO Director, Jarbas Barbosa said, highlighting achievements made during the session. Dr. Barbosa also called for a renewed commitment to the Pan American values of equity, excellence, solidarity, respect, and integrity.
Highlights from the session include the approval of the Plan of Action for Strengthening Information Systems for Health, essential to expand and strengthen these structures at the national and subnational levels. The plan prioritizes digital health and covers areas such as immunization, epidemiological surveillance, and communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
A strategy and action plan to decrease the burden of sepsis was also addressed, as well as a policy to strengthen health sector action on climate change and health with a focus on equity. This policy aims to strengthen the sector's capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change and reduce health inequities.
A policy on long-term care and a strategy to strengthen essential public health functions, focused on accelerating the transformation of health systems, were also discussed.
Member States reaffirmed their commitment to tobacco control in the region during the debate on the strategy and action plan to accelerate the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. A strategy for integrating emergency, critical and operative care was also validated, as was a strategy on epidemic intelligence to strengthen early warning systems for health emergencies.
The PAHO Executive Committee, composed of nine Member States elected for a three-year period, meets twice a year and serves as a working group for the Pan American Sanitary Conference and the PAHO Directing Council. The 16 resolutions approved will now be discussed and approved by the 35 PAHO Member States, who will meet from September 30 to October 4, 2024, in Washington, DC, during the Organization's Directing Council meeting.
