PAHO NEWS----- November 9, 2001
PAHO News Index: http://www.csih.org/Pahonews/index.html
In this issue:
***PAHO NEWS***
-FINAL REPORT OF THE CONSULTATION MEETING ON BIOTERRORISM
-FROM SURVEYS TO SURVEILLANCE
-PREVALENCE ESTIMATES FOR HYPERTENSION IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
-NOVEMBER 14 IS WORLD DIABETES DAY
-UPCOMING MEETING: "DISASTER RISK REDUCTION HEMISPHERIC CONFERENCE"
-PAHO JOB OPPORTUNITY: EPIDEMIOLOGIST- CERVICAL CANCER
-PAHO'S CARIBBEAN PROGRAM SEEKS SHORT TERM CONSULTANT
-PAHO SEEKS CANADIAN CONSULTANT FOR WORKERS' HEALTH PROJECT
-PAHO SEEKS CANADIAN CONSULTANT FOR SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROJECT
-NEW PAHO PUBLICATION: "INVESTMENT IN HEALTH: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RETURNS"
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FINAL REPORT OF THE CONSULTATION MEETING ON BIOTERRORISM
In response to numerous inquiries from PAHO's Member States, the Director,
Dr. George A.O. Alleyne, convened a consultation meeting of experts on
bioterrorism from the Region of the Americas. The participants examined
current and future challenges and opportunities facing PAHO and provided
recommendations for the Organization's technical cooperation in regard to
prevention, control, and response to threats or acts of bioterrorism.
http://www.paho.org/English/PED/antiterrorism.htm
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PREVALENCE ESTIMATES FOR HYPERTENSION IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN:
ARE THEY USEFUL FOR SURVEILLANCE?
Prevalence estimates for hypertension in Latin America and the Caribbean:
are they useful for surveillance?
This article from the October issue of the "Journal," a follow-up piece to
an article presented in the September issue (A Tool for Assessing the
Usefulness of Prevalence Studies Done for Surveillance Purposes: The
Example of Hypertension), is a case study that applies the assessment tool
to studies of hypertension in Latin America and the Caribbean. Accompanying
the case study is an editorial that comments on the issue of surveys and
surveillance and the significance of the ideas presented in the September
article.
http://www.paho.org/English/DBI/ES/v10n4-hyperten.htm
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NOVEMBER 14 IS WORLD DIABETES DAY
World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes
world. It aims to raise public awareness of the causes, symptoms,
treatment and complications associated with the condition. It also serves
as an important reminder that the incidence of this serious condition is
still on the increase.
World Diabetes Day will be held November 14, 2001 and celebrated in over
130 countries worldwide by the member associations of the International
Diabetes Federation (IDF). This year's theme is "Reducing the burden:
Diabetes and cardiovascular disease." In recent years, activities have
included help-lines, radio shows, sporting events, free blood screening
tests, public information meetings and poster and leaflet campaigns.
There are several ways to get involved with this year's celebration. If you
are an individual concerned with diabetes you can contact your local
diabetes association and find out what's happening in your part of the
world. If you are a member of a National Diabetes Association, you may
contact the IDF Public Relations Manager to find out more about how to
celebrate World Diabetes Day in your country. If your corporation would
like to get involved and contribute to this global awareness campaign,
please contact the IDF Executive Director who will be happy to provide you
with further information.
Visit the IDF website at http://www.idf.org for more information.
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UPCOMING MEETING: "DISASTER RISK REDUCTION HEMISPHERIC CONFERENCE"
DECEMBER 4-6, 2001. SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
As a follow-up to the Third Summit of the Americas held in Quebec City in
April of this year, the Governments of Costa Rica and the United States
are co-hosting this hemispheric conference to focus on Disaster Risk
Reduction, with emphasis on disaster prevention and mitigation activities
as they relate to development (disaster response and
preparedness issues will not be addressed.)
For more information, consult the Conference web site:
http://www.ofdalac.org/summit/. Registration is open to all sectors and
agencies and registration forms are available on the web site. Please note
the deadline is November 15, 2001.
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PAHO JOB OPPORTUNITY: EPIDEMIOLOGIST- CERVICAL CANCER
The Vacancy Notice and application information for this post are available
on the PAHO website at http://www.paho.org, under Job Opportunities.
VACANCY NOTICE: 01/PAHO/039
TITLE: EPIDEMIOLOGIST- CERVICAL CANCER
GRADE: P.4
POST NUMBER: .6214
LOCATION: Washington, DC
ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION/UNIT: Division of Disease Prevention and Control
(HCP), Non-Communicable Diseases (HCN)
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: 16 November 2001
REQUIREMENTS: A doctoral qualification with a postgraduate degree to at
least the master's level in Epidemiology. Formal training must include
substantial quantitative methods, as applied to public health
interventions. Very good knowledge of English and Spanish.
EXPERIENCE: Nine years of combined national and international professional
experience in designing and evaluating programs and activities which
involve social communication and programs. Experience in the development
of advocacy strategies. Participation in technical cooperation programs.
DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
-Advises on the development of a system to evaluate programs for the
prevention and control of cervical cancer;
-Designs operations research to evaluate demonstration projects for the
prevention of cervical cancer;
-Identifies, trains and organizes local partners to participate in the
execution of the operations research;
-Designs a study to evaluate the safety, effectiveness and costs of
different screening and treatment algorithms for cervical cancer in low
resource settings;
-Coordinates/ supervises regional and country working team for the project
"Prevention of Cervical Cancer"
-Reviews the quality of available data to be used in the development of
information systems;
-Conducts and analyze pilot studies, as appropriate, for the establishment
of information systems and program evaluation;
-Prepares documentation to disseminate relevant scientific and technical
information from the results of the work performed;
-Participates in the epidemiology working group with members of the
Alliance for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer
-Performs other duties as assigned
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PAHO'S CARIBBEAN PROGRAM SEEKS SHORT-TERM CONSULTANT
PROJECT TITLE: Monitoring Hydrocarbon Products in Ground Water in Barbados.
CONTRACT LENGTH: 10 working days, including 5 days in Barbados.
EXPECTED RESULT: The output of this consultancy will assist the Ministry of
Physical Development and Envrionment of Barbados to define a policy
guideline for monitoring of hydrocarbon compounds in ground water in
Barbados.
SCOPE OF WORK: The consultant will:
-Review existing information on hydrocarbon pollution in Barbados.
-Assess the relative risk of ground water pollution from hydrocarbons in
Barbados.
-Assist the EED, with the identification of monitoring sites at abstraction
sources and in the distribution network.
-Hold discussions with the relevant officials from the Ministry of Health,
from Barbados Water Authorities, Environmental Health Department, the
Environmental Engineering Division, Analytical services Laboratory, and the
Ministry of Environment.
-Review information on legislation and regulations.
-Assess strengths and weakness of legislation and regulations in view of
enforcement to protect ground water from pollution from hydrocarbon
products. (NB: particularly powers of the EED to reduce pollution for
landbased hydrocarbon spills for example the experience of Gibbons Boggs
aviation fuel leak in 1996.)
-Review laboratory data to estimate presence of hydrocarbon compounds in
potable water in Barbados and order/recommend appropriate tests for
obtaining such data.
-Prepare a standard operating procedure identifying acceptable methods for
sampling and analysis for hydrocarbons, total petroleum hydrocarbons and
Benzene, Toluene, Ethylene and Xyelene (BTEX). Indicate procedures,
equipment and instruments necessary to collect and analyze samples and
report results.
-Assess training needs to conduct hydrocarbon tests in Barbados.
-Make recommendations on overall guidelines to follow for an efficient
monitoring program for hydrocarbon products in ground water, including
training for relevant staff.
-Present a report in draft within two weeks after the end of the
consultancy on hardcopy and diskette in WORD
REMUNERATION: Negotiable based on existing project budget (+ USD $177 per
diem)
DATES: November or early December, 2001. Please note: you must be
available to travel to Barbados during the month of November or early
December 2001.
HOW TO APPLY: Please send your cv, with a letter of interest, to:
Eng. Harry Phillipeaux
Caribbean Program Coordinator
PAHO/ CPC Barbados
FAX: 1(246) 436-9779
EMAIL: [log in to unmask]
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PAHO SEEKS CANADIAN CONSULTANT FOR WORKERS' HEALTH PROJECT
(DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 15, 2001)
Under the supervision of PAHO and Caribbean governments, the consultant
will participate for a three-month period in the "Workers' Health and
Health Sector Reform Project" to improve human health and quality of
environment in the workplaces of the Caribbean. The goal of this project
is to contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality from chronic
and communicable diseases, as well as to improve the quality of human
health
and the environment in workplaces.
The consultant will:
-Meet with officials in the public and private sectors of the Bahamas, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica to ascertain the status
of National Workers' Health plans and programs (policies).
-Review workers' health plan, policy and legislation in light of country
structures to manage workers' health priorities and promote effective
strategies to increase awareness of health and safety in the working
environment.
-Assist in the drafting of national policy on workers' health.
-Assess the knowledge-base of professionals involved in the workers' health
program.
-Assist PAHO in the development of local training curricula in workers'
health.
-Meet with relevant stakeholders: government, trade unions, NGOs, community
groups and private sector.
-Draft project proposals for mobilization of resources.
-Provide of technical advice and assistance as required.
This project will establish a fundamental mechanism for a healthy working
population and will facilitate the sustainable development of the selected
countries.
Interested candidates with expertise in workers' health are asked to
contact Helene Thibault, Program Manager for CSIH-PAHO Liaison via email
only at: [log in to unmask] by November 15th at the latest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PAHO SEEKS CANADIAN CONSULTANT FOR SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROJECT
Under the supervision of Dr. Graciela Uriburu, PAHO/ WHO Representative in
Belize, the consultant will participate for a three-month period in the
"Sexual and Reproductive Health Project" to investigate the reasons behind
Belize's high level of maternal mortality. The consultant will produce a
comprehensive study and analysis of the causes of maternal mortality in
Belize for use by the country in planning specific intervention strategies
to decrease the level of maternal mortality.
The consultant will:
-Work with the Ministry of Health to identify and review epidemiological
data /relevant documents regarding maternal mortality.
-Work with identified focal points in the Ministry of Health to design
methodology and instruments for the study.
-Work with the Ministry of Health to hold workshop(s) with stakeholders
(in the private and public sectors) including the Statistical Unit, heads
of other institutions, obstetricians, gynecologists and pediatricians to
discuss the project, including methodology and the instrument to be used.
-Pretest the instrument at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and District
Hospitals.
-Redesign instrument with changes identified.
-Carry out the survey.
-Analyze the data and prepare a report.
-Conduct a workshop with the stakeholders to discuss i) the findings of
the study and ii) the way forward / strategies to address the problem.
-Review and prepare a proposal to develop or strengthen the surveillance
system.
The project will provide data and analysis that could be used to plan
intervention programs in support of country efforts to promote safe
motherhood, reduce maternal mortality and establish a surveillance system.
Interested candidates with expertise in sexual and reproductive health are
asked to contact Helene Thibault, CSIH-PAHO Liaison via email only at:
[log in to unmask] as soon as possible.
_____________
NEW PAHO PUBLICATION: "INVESTMENT IN HEALTH: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RETURNS"
The Pan American Health Organization joined hands with the Inter-American
Development Bank and the World Bank, and also worked with the United
Nations Development Program and the United Nations Economic Commission for
Latin America and the Caribbean, to explore how investing in health can
benefit economic growth, household productivity, and poverty alleviation in
Latin America and the Caribbean.
This publication collects the final reports of three research projects that
examined these issues. The work published here includes cutting-edge
research by economist interested in health issues and by health workers who
era concerned about the broader implications of good health. These findings
will go a long way towards establishing the critical role that health plays
in overall human development. For more information, or to purchase this
publication, visit PAHO's online bookstore at:
http://publications.paho.org/english/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=622
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Claire Wilkins
PAHO Liaison and Administrative Assistant
Canadian Society for International Health
One Nicholas St., Suite 1105
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7 Canada
Tel: (613) 241-5785 ext. 329 / Fax (613) 241-3845
[log in to unmask]
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