Montevideo, 4 December 2024 (PAHO)- In the framework of the closure of the Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women's and Reproductive Health (CLP/WR) in Uruguay and the transfer of its functions to Washington D.C. with the creation of a new unit, a meeting was held between the director of CLP/WR, Suzanne Serruya; the representative of PAHO Uruguay, Caroline Chang; and the Minister of Public Health in Uruguay, Karina Rando.
During the meeting, the director of CLP/WR expressed that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is “deeply grateful to Uruguay for enabling the founding of CLP/WR and for hosting the center for 54 years”.
The creation of the center in Uruguay was no accident. Prior to its founding in 1970, important steps were taken in Montevideo for health care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, both for mothers and their babies. A strong research group developed not only relevant original knowledge, but also techniques, strategies, measuring equipment and even units of measurement that are still used today in perinatology.
Dr. Roberto Caldeyro Barcia of Uruguay, recognized as the father of perinatology, played an essential role in the training of thousands of fellows from all over the world who came to the 16th floor of the Hospital de Clínicas, where the Latin American Center of Perinatology and Human Development he directed was located. Under his leadership, CLP/WR was consolidated as a reference center in maternal and child health, focused on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in Latin America.
Serruya pointed out that the center's work has evolved according to the needs of the countries themselves. “Fortunately, national capacities have been generated. For some time now, the center has provided technical cooperation of excellence to the countries of the region”.
Precisely, this transfer aims to increase PAHO's technical cooperation, in an integrated manner, to strengthen the approach to women's, children's, and reproductive health based on primary health care and the development of equitable and resilient health systems.
This measure is part of a strategy to optimize the organizational structure of the Office and improve the response to country demand, considering the evolving regional and global context, as well as the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister of Health from Uruguay said that both the country and the region are fortunate because “PAHO had the vision to support Caldeyro... it supported him with the creation of CLP/WR and put him in charge of the center... that was a very rich stage for the country”.
“We are very grateful that PAHO has given Uruguay the opportunity to have a first class Latin American Perinatology Center like CLP/WR”.
For her part, the PAHO representative expressed that “One of the greatest successes in the history of PAHO was, precisely, to create this center, and this will be engraved in the history of the Americas and in the history of Uruguay”. Chang also assured that Uruguay continues to be a model in public health and cooperation through the country office will continue in order to continue sharing and learning together.
Closing of CLP/WR
In September 2024, at PAHO's 61st Directing Council, Member States approved the closure of CLP/WR in Uruguay and the transfer of its functions to the headquarters in Washington, D.C. with the creation of a new unit in the Department of Health Systems and Services.
