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HEALTH SECURITY: PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS AND RESPONSE. Cristina V. Beato, M.D. Deputy Director. Hemispheric Security Commission Organization American States. Health and security. Global Health is a matter of national and international security
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HEALTH SECURITY: PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS AND RESPONSE Cristina V. Beato, M.D. Deputy Director Hemispheric Security Commission Organization American States
Health and security • Global Health is a matter of national and international security • Certain infectious diseases are becoming an ever-increasing global threat • International Health Regulations (IHR) is a global respond to Health Security concern
Declaration on Security in the Americas: Clauses related to Health • Clause 38: Epidemic diseases as national and international security threat • Clause 39: Natural and man-made disaster • Clauses 40 & 41: Environmental deterioration and global climate change • Clause 42: Strengthen the systems, institutions, and mechanisms of the Inter-American system
Health Security Response: International Health Regulation The purpose and scope of these Regulations are to prevent, protect, and provide a public health response to the international threat and spread of diseases. Also, avoid unnecessary disruption of international travel and trade Maintain the sovereignty of states and cause minimal disruption to international flow of people and goods Contain the international spread of diseases
IHR: Member States commitment to implement • PAHO/WHO and its Member States initiated work on activities related to the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) well before their entry into force. • By 15 June 2009, Member States must have assessed the ability of their existing national public health infrastructure, to include human and financial resources, to meet core surveillance and response capacity requirements described in Annex A of the IHR (2005).
IHR: Status Update • Almost all Member States have successfully participated in simulation tests of communication with PAHO • Several Member States in the Southern Cone and Central America are already conducting assessments of their national capacity for surveillance and response • PAHO has supported Member States by providing guidance and tools for IHR implementation and by raising awareness of the key elements of the IHR at subregional and national meetings
Actions on HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and other epidemic diseases • The Three Ones principles, represents an approach to the organization of the response to HIV in the countries • Through the Strategic Fund, PAHO has helped countries that participate in global antiretroviral initiatives as well as Global Fund projects • The Regional Strategy for Tuberculosis Control for 2005–2015 was established in order to provide a response tailored to the problems in each country • PAHO is working with countries to fight against malaria in endemic regions. Malaria has declined in the Region in recent years, but the disease continues to be a public health problem of first magnitude.
Actions on natural and man-made disaster • PAHO has established a regional response team for emergencies and disasters. • PAHO has consolidated the experience gained in the countries in the Region by producing guides and technical materials for comprehensive management of emergencies and disasters in the field of health • PAHO assists the Member States by mobilizing funds and response teams and providing technical expertise.
Actions on environmental deterioration and global climate change • 28% of the Member States had national policies, and nearly 55% had national plans for solid waste management • PAHO organized a series of five-day training workshops to create regional awareness and plans to control use of fossil fuels in dwellings • A regional publication has been prepared on the effects of air pollution • PAHO/WHO and the World Meteorological Organization sponsored a conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, on August 2007 to study the potential consequences of climate change in the Americas • PAHO/WHO has designated World Health Day 2008 as Health and Climate Change
Actions: Inter-American System strength • Since 2003 PAHO has hosted the Inter American Coalition for the Prevention of Violence (IACPV) • PAHO/WHO and the IACPV have implemented in selected municipalities an intersectorial-based model aimed to solve the problem of inconsistent information on deaths from intentional or unintentional injuries • PAHO/WHO has implemented the Youth Development and Violence prevention project in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Peru and Argentina. The Youth Development and Violence prevention strengthen the networks from government and nongovernmental organizations.