PAHO News – November 27, 2003

 

In this issue:

- HIV/AIDS DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH SERVICES IS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION,
SAYS NEW PAHO REPORT 

- PAHO STUDY SAYS LATIN AMERICA, CARIBBEAN SENIORS LACK HEALTH CARE 

- CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: 2003-2004 YOUNG RESEARCHER GRANTS

-FORUM IV: INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM ON CHEMICAL SAFETY

-INVOLVING YOUTH IN THE 4TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

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HIV/AIDS DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH SERVICES IS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION,
SAYS NEW PAHO REPORT 

Discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS in hospitals, clinics and
other health-service centers constitutes a human rights violation,
according to a new report by the Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO).

The 56-page report says that many international bodies, particularly the
United Nations Commission on Human Rights, have confirmed that the
different international human rights treaties and agreements apply also
to health care issues, including HIV/AIDS.

The report –- to be released December 1, World AIDS Day -- notes that
most Latin American and Caribbean countries have ratified international
human rights conventions and thus committed themselves to uphold the
human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS.

In addition, several countries in the Americas have approved legislation
outlawing HIV/AIDS-related discrimination. Some of that legislation
makes specifically links HIV/AIDS to human rights, as in Costa Rica, for
example. Regarding health services, such laws usually reaffirm that
persons with HIV/AIDS must not be denied appropriate care and treatment.
Those laws also often regulate other responsibilities, such as
confidentiality and the screening of blood products.  

For more information, visit:

http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr031126.htm

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PAHO STUDY SAYS LATIN AMERICA, CARIBBEAN SENIORS LACK HEALTH CARE 

A new study drafted by experts of the Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO) shows that most people over 60 years of age in Latin American and
the Caribbean lack access to the health care they need. Data included in
the report on Health, Well-being and Aging: Health Among Adults in Latin
America and the Caribbean, presented to an intergovernmental meeting on
aging in Chile on Nov. 19, reveal that aging in the region is occurring
at an unprecedented pace combined with a sharp increase in the demand
for health care. And that growing demand represents a severe problem,
especially for the region’s poorer nations. For more information, visit:
http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr031107.htm

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: 2003-2004 YOUNG RESEARCHER GRANTS

 

The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research aims to promote the
generation, dissemination and use of knowledge for enhancing health
system performance. One of its strategic objectives is to facilitate the
development of capacity for the generation, dissemination and use of
knowledge among researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders.

 

The Alliance is calling for applications for grants to strengthen the
capacity of Masters or PhD teaching programs involved in the field of
HPSR in developing countries. A total of up to US$25,000 will be
provided for a period of one year, renewable on the basis of results.

 

Deadline: 16 January 2004. For more information on this program, please
see the Alliance web site: www.alliance-hpsr.org  (NEWS Section) or
request an application kit to the Manager, [log in to unmask] 

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FORUM IV: INTERGOVERNMENTAL FORUM ON CHEMICAL SAFETY

The Fourth session of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety
(1-7 November 2003) made substantive progress towards achieving sound
global management of chemical safety. Delegates at all levels singled
the need to protect children from chemical threats and safeguard their
environment. There was a strong call for action to mitigate known risks
and to address areas of uncertainty concerning children's exposure to
chemical threats. The need to consider children's possible enhanced
exposures and/or special vulnerabilities whenever acceptable levels of
exposure or criteria related to chemicals are being set was emphasized.
Governments were called to prepare initial national assessments of
children's environmental and chemical safety. These assessments should
identify the priority concerns in their country, and provide the basis
for developing action plans to address those concerns. More information:
http://www.who.int/ifcs/Forums/ForumIV/Forum_IV.htm 

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INVOLVING YOUTH IN THE 4TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

 

In collaboration with WHO/EURO, Young Minds will be involved in the
preparations for, and be present at, the 4th Ministerial Conference on
Environment and Health (Budapest, June 2004). Young Minds is an
Internet-based project through which young people from multiple European
countries communicate and explore the links between youth, culture and
health. A schools program on "environment, health and being young" is
now underway, encouraging young people to reflect on the impact of the
environment on health and the role of young people in environmental
health issues. At the conference itself, Young Minds will enable youth
from eight participating countries to play a part in the debate on
environment and health. Select schools will send student and teacher
representatives to demonstrate the use of ICTs at the Conference. All
schools throughout Europe will be able to follow the Conference through
a live interactive Web site. For more information:
http://www.young-minds.net/

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