PAHO News -- March 27, 2003

In this issue:
-HEALTH IN THE AMERICAS WEEK: OUTLINE OF EVENTS
-WORLD PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DAY IS APRIL 6!
-TUBERCULOSIS REMAINS SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEM IN AMERICAS, EXPERTS SAY ON
WORLD TB DAY
-ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT
-FOUR MONTHS SINCE LAST REPORTS OF D9 MEASLES VIRUS IN THE AMERICAS
-CREATING TOOLS TO REDUCE INEQUITIES
-NEW PUBLICATION: HARMONIZING DONOR PRACTICES FOR EFFECTIVE AID DELIVERY
-WHO RELEASES NEW TOOL TO DETECT SUBSTANDARD AND COUNTERFEIT MEDICINES
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HEALTH IN THE AMERICAS WEEK: OUTLINE OF EVENTS

The theme for World Health Day on April 7 is "Healthy Environments for
Children." The following "Health in the Americas week" events are
scheduled for April 7-14, 2003.

-       Saturday April 7, 2003: World Health Day Ceremony, Washington
-       Tuesday April 8, 2003: Children's Health Fair, Washington
-       Wednesday April 9, 2003: HHS-EPA-PAHO Joint Activity; US -
Mexico border
-       Wednesday April 9, 2003: Healthy Housing for Children Event,
Washington
-       Thursday April 10, 2003: Launch of the Virtual Public Health
Campus, Washington
-       Friday April 11, 2003: Health Promotion and Health Education in
a school setting, Washington
-       Saturday April 12, 2003: 7th Annual Walk for Health, Washington

For further details, visit:
http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/whd03_calendar.htm

In Ottawa, the Canadian Society for International Health on behalf of
PAHO will be collaborating with the Canadian Institute of Child Health,
Health Canada and Environment Canada in organizing a workshop on
Children's Health and the Environment. More than 70 non-governmental
organizations have been invited. Contact [log in to unmask] for more
information.
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WORLD PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DAY IS APRIL 6!

The purpose of the Agita Mundo, World Physical Activity Day, is to
encourage people to adopt an active lifestyle as a way to maintain
health.  On April 6, the day will be celebrated through a series of
physical activity events. Each country is encouraged to organize an
event. To find out more, visit the Agita Mundo website at:
http://www.agitasp.com.br/english/default.asp.
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TUBERCULOSIS REMAINS SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEM IN AMERICAS, EXPERTS SAY ON
WORLD TB DAY

On World TB Day - March 24, 2003 - PAHO experts warned that tuberculosis
remains a serious health problem in the region.  Each year some 250,000
cases are reported in the Americas, with around 20,000 deaths. The
highest case and mortality rates are found in the poorest countries,
with consequent harm to individuals, families, and national economies.
The slogan for World TB Day 2003 was: "DOTS cured me-- it will cure you
too."  DOTS is the recommended strategy to control TB: Directly Observed
Treatment, Short Course. This strategy, which includes supervised
treatment, also has five other key elements: Political will for TB
control, regular supplies of drugs for all patients, diagnostic
capability, training and supervision, and a registry system to evaluate
treatment. So far in the Americas, 25 countries are applying the DOTS
strategy, and the success of treatment in those countries is about 80
percent, compared with 52 percent in countries that do not apply the
strategy. For the full press release, visit:
http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr030324.htm.
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ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT

Until fairly recently, no one imagined that water would become a
valuable, expensive, commodity. Today, however, many people do not have
access to this vital element, which is fundamental to healthy life. For
World Water Day celebrated every March 22, PAHO showed that, in the
Americas, more than 70 million people still lack easy access to drinking
water, 95 million do not have basic sanitation and 194 million live in
homes connected to sewage systems that do not receive treatment.
Figures indicate that the region would need some $220 million to meet
the cumulative deficit in sanitary infrastructure.  For the full press
release, visit: http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr030320.htm.
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FOUR MONTHS SINCE LAST REPORTS OF D9 MEASLES VIRUS IN THE AMERICAS

The countries of the Americas have not reported new cases of
transmission of the d9 measles virus, the strain responsible for the
only large outbreak of measles in the region during 2002, for over four
months, according to Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) experts.
Progress toward eradicating measles in the Region of the Americas
reflects sustained political commitment by member countries and full
implementation of PAHO's recommended measles-control strategies, and
demonstrates that global measles eradication is achievable. However,
important challenges remain. Measles is still endemic in other regions,
and sporadic cases continue to occur in the Region of the Americas
because of importation. For the full press release, visit:
http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr030324a.htm
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CREATING TOOLS TO REDUCE INEQUITIES

How do factors such as gender, ethnicity, social class, race, and
geography influence a person’s health and general well-being? This
question, as well as how to scientifically measure and explain gaps in
opportunities to enjoy good health, are the focus of a special issue of
the Pan American Journal of Public Health.  This special issue is
available online at:
http://publications.paho.org/english/news.cfm?ID=81.
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NEW PUBLICATION: HARMONIZING DONOR PRACTICES FOR EFFECTIVE AID DELIVERY

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has
posted a notice of its new publication "Harmonizing Donor Practices for
Effective Aid Delivery" on the Equidad listserver.  OECD argues that
"the management of different donor procedures bears a high cost for
developing countries - especially the poorest and most aid dependent.
For example, meeting multiple donor requirements employs a significant
proportion of developing countries' administrative capacity; it impairs
ownership over partners' own development plans and weakens capacity for
effective public management."  An advance copy of this document is
available in PDF format at:
http://www.oecd.org/pdf/M00038000/M00038991.pdf.
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WHO RELEASES NEW TOOL TO DETECT SUBSTANDARD AND COUNTERFEIT MEDICINES

To improve the quality and efficacy of medicines, facilitate control of
counterfeit and substandard drugs and address problems of drug
resistance, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new
edition of the International Pharmacopoeia (IntPh).  This edition
provides specifications for the content, purity and quality of active
ingredients and pharmaceutical products according to internationally
approved standards. While a practical tool for all settings, it is aimed
especially at those countries where national regulatory authorities
(bodies charged with assuring the quality and safety of medicines) may
not have enough funds or staff to function effectively. For further
details, visit: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2003/pr24/en/
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