PAHO works with all the countries in the Western Hemisphere to improve health and quality of life throughout the Americas

113 years of Pan American leadership in health

PAHO: oldest international health agency in the world

1902 International Sanitary Bureau (ISB) is formed by the First General International Sanitary Convention of American States

1923 ISB renamed Pan American Sanitary Bureau

1924 Adoption of the Pan American Sanitary Code, continues in force today

PAHO: oldest international health agency in the world

1936

1945

Ratification of the Pan American Sanitary Code by all the American Republics

U.N. Charter is ratified, creating the United Nations

International Health Conference drafts the Constitution for a World Health Organization

Pan American Sanitary Bureau is renamed the “Pan American Sanitary Organization” (PASO)

Establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO)

PASO becomes the WHO Regional Office for the Americas

PASO becomes the specialized agency for health for the Inter-American System

Pan American Sanitary Organization is renamed Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1958

WHO REGIONAL STRUCTURE

What Is PAHO?

The Pan American Health Organization is the oldest international public health agency in the world, founded in 1902

A technical cooperation agency for health development

An inter-governmental organization

Technical cooperation areas

• Health Systems & Services integrated health services, health system financing, human

resources for health, essential meds & techs, patient safety, drug regulatory issues

• Sustainable Development & Health Equity water & sanitation, workers’ health, climate change, road

safety, violence against women

• Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Relief safe hospitals, risk reduction, health needs in emergencies

Antigua & Barbuda Argentina Bahamas Barbados Belize Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominica EcuadorEl Salvador Grenada GuyanaGuatemalaHaiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay

PeruDominican Republic Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname Trinidad & Tobago UruguayUSA Venezuela

Participating StatesFranceNetherlandsUnited Kingdom

Associate MembersArubaCuraçaoPuerto RicoSint Maarten

Observer StatesSpainPortugal

PAHO MEMBER STATES

Technical cooperation areas

• Family, Gender & Life Course child & adolescent health, immunization, nutrition,

aging, gender & cultural diversity

• Communicable Diseases & Health Analysis infectious, neglected & vector-borne diseases; epidemic alert & response; health information & analysis

• Noncommunicable Diseases & Mental Health

chronic diseases, healthy lifetsyles, disabilities, mental health services, substance abuse

Hemispheric health achievements

• 45 years in life expectancy gained since 1902• Eradication of smallpox & polio • Elimination of endemic rubella & congenital rubella

syndrome (April 2015)

• Major reductions in infant and child mortality• Significant expansion of health coverage for poor &

vulnerable groups

• Vaccination Week in the Americas, 12th anniversary 2014• World Immunization Week – global effort

Hemispheric health achievements

• Ratification by 29 of 35 countries of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

• LAC has highest rates of ART for people with HIV of any developing region

• LAC has lowest infant mortality of any developing region

• Major reductions in neglected diseases, e.g., leprosy, Chagas disease, onchocerciasis (river blindness)

Critical health challenges for the

Americas

• Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)• Health inequities• Social determinants of health• Universal health – a new priority

Universal Health

Universal health means that all people and communities have access—without discrimination—to comprehensive, appropriate and timely health services according to needs, and access to safe, effective, and affordable quality medicines, without exposure to financial difficulties.

113 years of Pan American leadership in health