Read part 1 here

Approximately 137 million people in the Americas are at risk of contracting malaria, posing a significant threat to socio-economic development in the region. As a result, malaria often traps its victims in a complex cycle of poverty.

On December 25, 2010, the public health community will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Dr. Abraham Horwitz’s birth. Born in Santiago, Chile, in 1910, Dr. Horwitz became an icon in the world of public health by advancing health for all in the Americas throughout a remarkable six-decade career. Influenced by a deep desire to alleviate suffering, he never stopped working to improve conditions for the people of the Western Hemisphere. 

PAHEF continued its commitment to advancing health in the Americas by leading the discussion about the present and future impact of biotechnology on human health and its importance for Latin American societies at a meeting of the Safe Biotech Initiative Advisory Board meeting. PAHEF is a founding member of the board and Edward Kadunc, PAHEF’s president, moderated the discussion in Mexico City on November 12th. He highlighted the initiative’s recent accomplishments, which include securing partnerships with a number of Mexico’s prominent medical groups, patient groups, and hospitals to jointly host educational workshops; the first of which is scheduled to be held later this year.

To address the staggering upward trend of childhood obesity in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) played a prominent role at the Latin American Nutrition Society (SLAN, its Spanish acronynm) XV Nutrition Congress in Santiago, Chile November 15 – 19. 

The Pan American Health and Education Foundation is pleased to inform friends of the Foundation about the upcoming event presented by the Council of the Americas, “Health Care in the Americas” with keynote presenters Julio Frenk, dean of Harvard's School of Public Health and former Mexican Secretary of Health, and the Chilean Minister of Health, Jaime Mañalich:

Health Care in the Americas: Public-Private Efforts to Increase Access
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Registration: 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Presentation: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Read part 2 here

In the last decade, the nations of the Americas have experienced a 53 percent drop in malaria cases with a 57 percent drop in malaria-related deaths. Current trends suggest that previously endemic countries including Argentina, Mexico, El Salvador, and Paraguay, have great potential for malaria elimination in the coming years. However, it is not time to start celebrating just yet.

PAHEF is proud to be a major partner in the Caminata y Paseo Ciclista por la Cura de la Diabetes (Walk and Cycle for a Diabetes Cure) event that will be held on World Diabetes Day in Mexico City. The event will take place November 14th and encourages families, students, professionals, and all members of the general public to get involved to raise funds for a diabetes cure.

On November 4th, agencies from Suriname, Brazil, and Colombia were honored as "Malaria Champions of the Americas" during a celebration today of the fourth annual Malaria Day in the Americas, at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington, DC.

PAHO Deputy Director Jon Andrus presented the top "Malaria Champion of the Americas" award to the National Malaria Board of Suriname, which oversees efforts that have virtually eliminated malaria from most of the country’s interior.