The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and Latter-day Saint Charities (LDS Charities) have agreed to work together to improve the health and well-being of people in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Washington, DC, 4 March 2012 — The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and Latter-day Saint Charities (LDS Charities) have agreed to work together to improve the health and well-being of people in Latin America and the Caribbean.
PAHO/WHO and LDS Charities signed an agreement on March 2 under which the two organizations will work together to advance the Millennium Development Goals in Latin American and Caribbean countries by carrying out joint projects and sharing information, technical expertise, contacts, and specialized services.
"One of the greatest strengths of both LDS Charities and PAHO is their emphasis on serving families, communities and vulnerable population groups, using country networks and promoting demand for quality and culturally sensitive health services," said PAHO Assistant Director Dr. Socorro Gross.
The collaboration will focus on health promotion and disease prevention, using a life-course approach, which recognizes the interplay of risk and protective factors throughout people's lifetimes. Neonatal care is an area of particular mutual interest.
By working together, PAHO/WHO and LDS Charities hope to:
- Optimize their use of resources
- Improve coordination of in-country and headquarters activities
- Develop new relationships between the public health system and larger health systems.
The two organizations have also agreed to make information derived from their cooperation available to the domestic and international scientific communities.
The March 2 agreement is for a three-year period, renewable by mutual consent.
PAHO is the oldest public health organization in the world, with 110 years of operation, and serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.
LDS Charities is a nonprofit organization that conducts charitable and humanitarian activities out of compassion for humanity. It is institutionally affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and communicates and cooperates with the Church's other affiliated entities in charitable and humanitarian activities.
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