WASHINGTON, DC (March 1, 2010) – Nominations are being accepted for the Fred L. Soper Award for Excellence in Health Literature now through June 30, 2010, 5:00 p.m. EST, at pahef.org/soper. This award is presented by the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to promote the highest standards in research that emphasizes regional impact in Latin America and the Caribbean. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of the award.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 1, 2010) – Nominations are being accepted for the Clarence H. Moore Award for Excellence for Voluntary Service now through June 30, 2010, 5:00 p.m. EST, at pahef.org/moore. This award, presented by the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), celebrates the achievements of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with a high volunteer-to-staff ratio operating in Latin America and the Caribbean in public health. This year marks the 21st anniversary of the creation of the award.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 1, 2010) – Nominations are being accepted for the Abraham Horwitz Award for Excellence in Leadership in Inter-American Health now through June 30, 2010, 5:00 p.m. EST, at pahef.org/horwitz. This award, presented by the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), recognizes the diligent work of leaders and their contributions to public health that result in improvements in the lives of people across Latin America and the Caribbean. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the award's creation.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 1, 2010) – Nominations are being accepted for the prestigious Pedro N. Acha Award for Excellence in Veterinary Public Health now through June 30, 2010, 5:00 p.m. EST, at pahef.org/acha. This award, presented by the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), recognizes outstanding research based on a thesis or scientific paper written by an undergraduate student in veterinary public health within the last three years. This year marks the 17th anniversary of the creation of the award.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 1, 2010) – Nominations are being accepted online now through June 15, 2010, 5:00 p.m. EST, at pahef.org/awards/nominations for the 2010 Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health, a joint program of the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). These awards honor dedicated professionals who led the way in advancing health conditions in the Americas during the last century and are intended to stimulate the growth of the next and rising generation of leaders working to improve health and health care in the Americas.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 1, 2010) — Today, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Ecuador announced that transmission of onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, has stopped in that country. This achievement is the result of the work by MOH workers with support of the Onchocerciasis Elimination Program of the Americas (OEPA).

WASHINGTON, DC (January 12, 2010) — The Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) received a $360,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for a three-year project called "Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities," to promote policy and environmental changes, community participation and development, and a multimedia campaign in healthy eating and active living in El Paso, Texas. "There is a great need for this type of project as residents of El Paso, the seventh-poorest county in the United States, often lack access to healthy foods, and a lack of recreational areas prevents many people from exercising or engaging in sports outdoors," said Edward L. Kadunc, executive director of PAHEF.