PAHO News -- July 18, 2002

In this issue:
-APPLY FOR THE 2003 PAHO TRAINING PROGRAM IN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH BEFORE
JULY 31! -WHY DOES LIFE EXPECTANCY VARY SO MUCH IN THE AMERICAS? -PRICES
FOR AIDS DRUGS FALL IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN -THE SOCCER KING:
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT -DRAFT TOBACCO CONTROL TREATY RELEASED -WHO
AFGHANISTAN UPDATE: MEASURES UNDERWAY TO CONTROL OUTBREAK OF DIARRHOEAL
DISEASE IN KABUL -PAHO JOB OPPORTUNITY: EPIDEMIOLOGIST FOR TEGUCIGALPA,
HONDURAS
~+~+~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~+~~+~+~~+

APPLY FOR THE 2003 PAHO TRAINING PROGRAM IN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH BEFORE
JULY 31!

Young health professionals who demonstrate leadership skills and a keen
interest in the international dimensions of health are invited to apply
for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) 17th Training Program in
International Health (TPIH-2003). The training process involves
participants in a work-study format at PAHO headquarters in Washington
DC for a period of eleven months, starting January 27, 2003. If you are
interested, send your application before July 31, 2001! You will find
information and application forms at:
http://www.paho.org/english/HSP/HSR/pfsiabout.htm.

PLEASE NOTE: all Canadian candidates MUST send their applications duly
completed with required documents by mail to: Maria Victoria Palacio,
CSIH-PAHO Liaison Assistant, One Nicholas, suite 1105, Ottawa K1N 7B7.
Do not hesitate to communicate with us if you have questions:
[log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
~+~+~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~+~~+~+~~+

WHY DOES LIFE EXPECTANCY VARY SO MUCH IN THE AMERICAS?

At birth, a Haitian child has a life expectancy of 54 years, while a
Canadian born the same day can expect to live to 79 years. Health
indicators, such as life expectancy and infant mortality, can also vary
within countries. Although general health indicators have improved in
the Americas, there are still inequalities that continue to be a
challenge to public health in the region.  Differences in life
expectancy are directly proportional to lack of equity in access to
medical care and are related to poverty and all its implications, both
at the regional and national levels. The lack of drinking water and
adequate sanitation accentuate risks to health, particularly for infants
who are more likely to catch intestinal infections. Major food problems
in the region also have important health impacts.  For the full feature,
visit: http://www.paho.org/English/DPI/100/100feature27.htm.
~+~+~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~+~~+~+~~+

PRICES FOR AIDS DRUGS FALL IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

The cost of antiretroviral drug therapy declined noticeably in 14
countries of Latin America and the Caribbean between May 2001 and May
2002, according to a PAHO survey. The survey also found a wide range in
the prices that different countries pay for the same treatment. Results
of the survey of AIDS drug prices are available online in PDF format:
http://www.paho.org/English/HCP/HCA/analysis.pdf.
~+~+~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~+~~+~+~~+

THE SOCCER KING: PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

PAHO, in collaboration with Globo TV, has produced a new public service
announcement starring Ronaldo.  Ronaldo, one of the most popular players
in the world, was one of the players that led Brazil to victory in the
2002 World Cup.  The announcement can be viewed online; it can be found
on PAHO's "What's New?" page:
http://www.paho.org/Search/WhatsNew.asp?LNG=ENG.
~+~+~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~+~~+~+~~+

DRAFT TOBACCO CONTROL TREATY RELEASED

The first complete draft of the "Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control", expected to be adopted in May 2003, is now available. Details
on core issues such as tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship;
illicit trade of tobacco products; tobacco taxes and international
cooperation are laid out in the document. WHO Member States will
consider these points at the October session of the Intergovernmental
Negotiating Body to be held in Geneva under the leadership of Brazilian
Ambassador and Chair de Seixas Correa. The Convention will help curb the
burgeoning tobacco epidemic, which already claims 4.2 million lives each
year.  For the full press release, click on:
http://www.who.int/inf/en/pr-2002-59.html. The document is referred to
as the Chair's Text, for the Fifth Section of the INB, and can be found
by navigating the Convention website: http://www.who.int/gb/fctc/.
~+~+~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~+~~+~+~~+

WHO AFGHANISTAN UPDATE: MEASURES UNDERWAY TO CONTROL OUTBREAK OF
DIARRHEAL DISEASE IN KABUL

Public health officials are chlorinating water and launching an
extensive health education campaign to control an outbreak of diarrheal
disease in Kabul, Afghanistan. Six thousand patients have been admitted
to hospital during the last three weeks. In addition to this, limited,
sporadic cases of cholera have been confirmed. WHO provides medicines
and supplies to hospitals and clinics, and assists Afghan health
authorities in reporting and analyzing cases of diarrheal diseases,
which kill annually an estimated 85,000 Afghan children.  For the full
Afghanistan Update, visit: http://www.who.int/disasters/repo/7921.doc.
~+~+~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~+~~+~+~~+

PAHO JOB OPPORTUNITY: EPIDEMIOLOGIST FOR TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS

PAHO is seeking an epidemiologist for its station in Tegucigalpa,
Honduras. Under the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative
and the technical guidance and support of the Chief, the incumbent will
cooperate with the country in the technical usage of epidemiology
principles and methods as applied to the areas of disease control,
planning of health services, and evaluation of the health situation. The
deadline for applications is August 19, 2002.  For more information,
visit:
http://pahoapl.paho.org/pahoexternalenglish/ASEPage_JobDetail.ASP.
~+~+~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~~+~+~+~+~~+~+~~+

To unsubscribe from CANCHID send: unsubscribe CANCHID to: [log in to unmask]  -  for help see http://listserv.yorku.ca