Our Work

The Pan American Health and Education Foundation presented this year's Clarence H. Moore Award to Ruben Pancca for his outstanding work, leadership and dedication to improving health, the environment, and education and basic services in Cochabamba, Bolivia. This year the Award was shared with the Cancer Society of Bahamas.

A certificate and cash prize of $1,000 were presented by Dr. José Antonio Pagés, PAHO/WHO Representative, at a World Health Day ceremony held on April 4 by the Minister of Health of Bolivia. Dr. Pagés noted that for more than 40 years Mr. Pancca has lead, managed and directed projects and resources to help people of Cochabamba. Mr. Pancca has promoted the creation of OTEPLAN a voluntary institution, which promotes community health projects.

This award that acknowledges outstanding voluntary contributions by NGOs or individuals in areas of health relevant to the programme of work of PAHO is well deserved," observed Pages. Among national health, international and local authorities attended the ceremony were, Dr. Guillermo Cuentas Yañez, Minister of Health of Bolivia.

Clarence H. Moore was a distinguished public administrator serving in the United Nations, PAHO, and the Foundation. A man of high idealism and altruistic motivation whose formative years were colored by the Great Depression. He believed that collective action, both through the public sector and on a voluntary basis, could play a leading role in fighting poverty and maintaining human dignity.

» Award Overview
» Biography
» Past Winners and Recognition

The Pan American Health and Education Foundation presented this year's Clarence H. Moore Award for voluntarism in health services to Mary Pérez de Marranzini, for her outstanding work, leadership and dedication to improve health care conditions in persons with physical and mental disabilities in the Dominican Republic. This Award recognizes outstanding contributions to health by national or local non-governmental or private voluntary organizations or personnel in areas related to the Pan American Health Organization's (PAHO) program of work.

Certificate of honor and cash prize of $2,500 were presented by Dr. Socorro Gross, PAHO/WHO Representative, in the context of the National Disability Day celebration in a ceremony held on December 2 by the Minister of Health of Dominican Republic. Dr. Gross noted that for more than 40 years Mrs. Pérez de Marranzini has led, managed and directed the Asociación Dominicana de Rehabilitación (ADR), a non profit institution, founded with its own resources that gradually has incorporated human and financial resources for its development.

During all these years, Mrs. Pérez de Marranzini and ADR have been working actively with health authorities in establishing national polices of care and protection of disabled people in her country. ADR provides physical and physiological rehabilitation for disable children and adults. Its objectives are to achieve neuro-rehabiltation in patients with special needs, considering basic aspects related to continuity and frequency, in which the treatments are developed, as well as providing treatment on language, pedagogy and social problems. Currently, ADR has 17 centers in different regions of the country, providing treatment and services to 2, 600 disable patients daily.

Among national, international and local health authorities, attendees included, Mrs. Milagros Ortíz Bosch, Vice-president of the Republic, Dr. José Rodríguez Soldevilla, Secretary of Health, Ms. Peggy Cabral, member of the Cabinet, Dr. Socorro Gross, PAHO/WHO Representative in the Dominican Republic.

Clarence H. Moore was a distinguished public administrator serving in the Unites Nations, PAHO, and the Foundation. A man of high idealism and altruistic motivation whose formative years were colored by the Great Depression. He believed that collective action, both through the public sector and on a voluntary basis, could play a leading role in fighting poverty and maintaining human dignity.

As a public foundation based in Washington DC, the Pan American Health and Education Foundation raises funds for public health needs in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Foundation works closely with its partner, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization for the Region of the Americas, to combat disease, vaccinate children, improve sanitation, make safe drinking water available, improve maternal/child care, and expand medical care services, health research and the training of healthcare students and workers.

» Award Overview
» Biography
» Past Winners and Recognition

The Pan American Health and Education Foundation presented this year's Clarence H. Moore Award to Father Ernesto Martearena and Programas Sociales Comunitarios for their outstanding volunteer work to improve the living conditions in the ethnic region of Salta, Argentina. Father Martearena was an exceptional leader who carried out programs in the area of public health service, water and basic sanitation, and health environment in rural communities of Salta. He worked with the poor, the indigenous peoples, the elderly and street children. Father Martearena was assassinated last October and the award was given posthumously, on December 18, at the Teatro Municipal of Salta.

A certificate and cash prize of $2,500 were presented on this occasion by Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, Assistant Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to the President of Programas Sociales Comunitarios, Mr. Jorge Alvarez.

"As an international organization, PAHO knew of the excellent volunteer work that Father Marteareana carried out during these last two decades in this diverse community of Salta. With his leadership, he helped to eradicate diseases such as polio, chicken pox, and elevate the quality of living conditions of the people of this region. Unfortunately, I personally did not have the opportunity to meet him, but today we recognize all that he has done in this community. His work is an example for all of us", observed Dr. Roses.

Mr. Jorge Alvarez noted that Programas Sociales Comunitarios serves thousands of people in this region. "Today we can understand and recognize what Father Martearena did for all of us. Daily more than 2000 people receive lunches in the shelters he constructed. We will continue his work, I am very sure we will continue it until the end."

Among national and international health authorities who attended this ceremony, were Dr. Juan Manuel Sotelo, PAHO/WHO Representative in Argentina, Dr. Néstor Nicolás, Operations Director of White Helmets Commission, Dr. Francisco Martini, Chief of Advisors, Ministry of Health, Dr. Abraham Stoliar, Director, National Program for Indigenous Affairs, Dr. Orlando Porratti, Secretary of the State of Salta for Social Development, Dr. Luis Ruiz Huidobro, Director of Environmental Health, Ministry of Public Health, and Ms. Jess Gersky, Executive Director of the Pan American Health and Education Foundation.

Clarence H. Moore, for whom the Award is named, was a distinguished public administrator serving in the United Nations, PAHO, and the Foundation. A man of high idealism and altruistic motivation whose formative years were colored by the Great Depression, he believed that collective action, both through the public sector and on a voluntary basis, could play a leading role in fighting poverty and maintaining human dignity.

As a public Foundation based in Washington, DC, the Pan American Health and Education Foundation raises funds for public health needs in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Foundation works closely with its partner, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization for the Region of the Americas, to combat disease, vaccinate children, improve sanitation, make safe drinking water available, improve maternal/child care, and expand medical care services, health research and the training of healthcare students and workers.

» Award Overview
» Biography
» Past Winners and Recognition

The Pan American Health and Education Foundation, an independent philanthropic organization, recognized the Clarence Moore Award to Patrulla Aerea Colombiana- Antioquia (PAC) for its outstanding volunteer work improving the health of inhabitants in remote areas of Colombia. Patrulla Aérea Colombiana-Antioquia, founded in 1965, provides medically-equipped, small planes and pilots to fly voluntary physicians and paramedical personnel to provide health services and programs to people living in remote regions of the country.

Dr. Mirta Roses, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), presented the Moore Award to Mr. Mauricio Echevarria, President of Patrulla Aérea Colombiana- Antioquia, on 28 October, 2003. The ceremony was held at the School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia in Medellin. She spoke to the distinguished public health leaders in attendance about the notable volunteer work of this non-governmental organization. National health and local authorities who attended the ceremony were Dr. Juan Gonzalo López, Vice Minister of Health and Social Well-being, Dr. Eduardo Alvarez, PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. Gabriel Jaime Guarín, Secretary of Health of Antioquia, Dr. Oscar Sierra, Dean, School of Public Health of the University of Antioquia, among others distinguished authorities of the health sector.

The Moore Award consists of a certificate of merit and $2500. The Foundation grants the award annually to a nongovernmental or private, national or local volunteer organization of Latin America or the Caribbean, or to individuals affiliated with them, whose work has resulted in outstanding contributions in public health. Clarence H. Moore was a distinguished public administrator serving in the United Nations, PAHO, and the Foundation. A man of high idealism and altruistic motivation whose formative years were colored by the Great Depression, he believed that collective action, both through the public sector and on a voluntary basis, could play a leading role in fighting poverty and maintaining human dignity.

The Pan American Health and Education Foundation is an independent philanthropic organization working to combat disease, lengthen life, improve health care services, foster health research, and enhance the capacities of health care workers in the Americas through grant-making and direct program implementation. The Foundation shares the Pan American Health Organization's vision of health for all.