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WASHINGTON, DC (April 30, 2010) – The Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) are proud to announce the creation of the Sérgio Arouca Award for Excellence in Universal Health Care. Nominations are being accepted now through June 30, 2010, 5:00 p.m. EST, at pahef.org/arouca.

This award recognizes one or more people, institutions, or governmental or nongovernmental organizations that have excelled in one or more of the following:

a) Developing policy and a national strategy for comprehensive health care in the previous year;

b) Promoting health programs and advances to increase the coverage, equity, and quality of care;

c) Promoting and implementing effective management of health systems, developing policies for universal health care, promoting such legislation within the framework of the nation's health systems structure;

d) Developing innovative programs that target groups of the socially excluded or geographically disadvantaged populations;

e) Introducing innovatively designed programs for degree and non-degree training of health care workers focused on expanding universal health care;

f) Demonstrating efficacy in efforts to involve communities in the planning, management, and appraisal of health programs; and

g) Preparing and executing relevant research on primary health systems.

Nominations may be made in Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, or English.

The awardee receives a cash prize, a certificate of merit, and is invited to Washington, DC, to receive the award at the annual Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health Event.

The Secretary of Health in Brazil and PAHEF, in cooperation with PAHO, created this award to honor the outstanding legacy of Dr. Sérgio Arouca. The Sérgio Arouca Award for Excellence in Universal Health Care is part of the Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health Program, a joint program of PAHEF and PAHO.

This award honors Dr. Sérgio Arouca who was a physician, researcher, and professor in the National School of Public Health and served as the Secretary of Health in Rio de Janeiro, and the Secretary of Social Participation in the Ministry of Health, Brazil. Dr. Arouca devoted his entire career to the advancement of public health in the Americas with a focus in advocacy and increasing the access of health care services.

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Founded in 1968, the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) is a public 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to fostering public health programs in the Americas that address major health concerns. PAHEF improves the lives of people throughout the Americas by working with the public and private sectors as well as major public health research, policy, and development groups.

PAHEF enjoys a unique relationship with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.

The Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health (pahef.org/awards) stimulate the growth of the next and rising generation of leaders working to improve health and health care in the Americas. The Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health Program is a partnership between PAHEF and PAHO. A jury of distinguished public health professionals reviews nominations and recommends a candidate for each award to the board of trustees of the Foundation for final selection.

pahef.org

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