Latin American health leaders call to prepare for future emergencies

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) celebrates from this Monday until September 30 the thirtieth edition of its health conference for analyze the lessons of the pandemic and seek agreements that help all the countries of the continent to improve the situation in the field of health.

Participating in the high-level meeting, among other leaders, are the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernandezwho highlighted that only by investing in public health from a rights-based approach and with a gender perspective, it will be possible to reduce the dependency and vulnerability of the region and have a better preparation for future global challenges.

“I want to underline two things that the pandemic left us: the first is the importance of prioritize health and the second is that, from crises, like from any emergency, no one is saved alone,” said Alberto Fernández in a video message, underlining the health cooperation that exists in the region.

Interruption of services and reversal

The director of PAHO, for her part, sounded the alarm regarding the interruption of health services derived from the pandemic, which caused a 30-year setback in childhood immunization.

“The region now sees the circulation of diseases that we had already eliminated or were about to overcome,” said Carissa Etienne, urging America’s leaders to reverse these trends with determination and warning that diseases such as diphtheria and yellow fever “are one outbreak away from becoming regional emergencies”.

Like other speakers on this first day of the conclave who emphasized the lessons of COVID-19 and solidarity to forge the future of health in the region, Etienne argued that for reconstruction after the pandemic, countries must work collaboratively.

“I hope that in ten years, we can consider our region as one (…) [y] that digital technologies enhance disease monitoring, improve the patient experience and foster informed decision-making in all our Member States,” he added.

Shared health agenda

According to the director of PAHO, the countries have translated the idea of universal health care on practical policy over the past decade and work together on a shared health agenda for the Americas and for the Sustainable Development Goals.

He clarified, however, that although this collaboration has had a real impact in reducing inequalities, the countries must continue with a caring spirit to address the current challenges, among which the drop in vaccination coverage stood out again.

In his speech, Etienne also emphasized the work of PAHO, which has expanded technical cooperation to increase the resilience of health systems and disaster preparedness, which has been instrumental in our responses to Zika, COVID, and monkeypox.

Pandemic of inequalities

The Minister of Public Health of Paraguay, Julio Borba, who chairs the Conference, addressed the problem of inequity, evidenced by the pandemic.

“We can affirm that this is a pandemic of inequalities, especially exacerbated in the health, economic and social spheresin which inequities both between countries and within them worsened, “he said.

Brba added that it is now necessary to take the appropriate measures to face the new scenario and renew the political commitment to build a more consolidated multilateral system “that prioritizes, above all, the strengthening of international cooperation, solidarity, equity and unity” among the countries of the region.

At this year’s Conference, delegates will discuss ongoing health emergencies such as COVID-19 and monkeypox, and review policies and strategies to strengthen the region’s preparedness for future emergencies, including but not limited to things, regional action to improve genomic surveillance, build resilient health workforces, and improve regulatory systems to facilitate the production of health technologies, such as vaccines.

In addition, issues such as the growing burden of mental health disordersintegrated health care and the fight against non-communicable diseases.