Washington, D.C., 29 September 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - Health leaders at the 55th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) approved new strategies this week to tackle malaria, arboviruses such as Zika and dengue, and neglected infectious diseases including leprosy and Chagas disease. Toward malaria elimination The new Plan of…
Washington, D.C., 29 September 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - Ministers of health and other delegates to the 55th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) agreed to take action and support investments to reduce disaster risks in the health sector and to make health systems more resilient in the face of disasters, epidemics and other…
Washington, D.C., 29 September 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - Ministers of health from throughout the Americas have endorsed a series of actions aimed at mitigating the health impact of disasters by improving the capacity of countries' health sectors to respond to such events and to recover from their effects quickly and effectively. The Plan of Action for…
Washington, D.C., 29 September 2016 (PAHO/WHO) -  Noting that malaria "remains a serious threat" in the Americas that has resurged where efforts against the disease have weakened, health ministers from across the Region today adopted a new plan for malaria elimination over the next four years, urging countries to intensify the fight against…
Plan seeks to reduce new HIV infections, AIDS-related deaths, and the number of children born with HIV, among other goals. Washington, D.C., 28 September 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - Based on 30 years of public health efforts to respond to the HIV epidemic, ministers of health from the countries of the Americas approved a plan to scale up prevention and…
Washington, D.C., 27 September 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - The Region of the Americas is the first in the world to have eliminated measles, a viral disease that can cause severe health problems, including pneumonia, brain swelling and even death. This achievement culminates a 22-year effort involving mass vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella…
New interactive map highlights areas within countries that exceed WHO air quality limits A new World Health Organization (WHO) air quality model confirms that 92% of the world’s population lives in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits. Information is presented via interactive maps, highlighting areas within countries that exceed WHO…
Washington, D.C., 26 September 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) today recognized the Government of Uruguay for "its global leadership in defending tobacco control policies in benefit of people's health over commercial interests." The recognition was made before an audience of…