PAHO News – October 9, 2003

In this issue:
- WATER CRISIS AFFECTS 130 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE AMERICAS
- NEW ZOONOSES BOOK PRESENTS LATEST INFORMATION ON EMERGING DISEASES
- VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: THE HEALTH SECTOR RESPONDS
- REGIONAL WORKSHOP: IMPROVING THE MEASUREMENT OF POVERTY IN THE
AMERICAS: HEALTH ADJUSTED POVERTY LINES (HAPL) - PAHO / USCB REGIONAL
WORKSHOP - DOCUMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS
- MARTIN EICHELBERGER OF THE UNITED STATES WINS THE 2003 ABRAHAM HORWITZ
AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP
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WATER CRISIS AFFECTS 130 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE AMERICAS
In Latin America and the Caribbean, more than 130 million people do not
have safe drinking water in their homes, and only 86 million are
connected to adequate sanitation systems, according to figures prepared
for Inter-American Water Day, celebrated on October 4, 2003. This water
crisis reflects access inequity, both in the Americas and in the rest of
the world: the percentages of population without drinking water services
and sanitation are five times higher in rural areas than in the cities.
Inter-American Water Day has a dual purpose: to raise consciousness
about the importance of water and to alert governments, international
organizations, and private entities about the need to improve drinking
water supplies, especially to rural areas. Publications released at this
year’s Water Day state the need to reduce water contamination, which is
closely linked to bacterial, parasitic, and other water-borne diseases,
especially cholera and diarrhea; if the poorer populations of the
Americas received basic drinking water and sanitation services,
morbidity from diarrhea would be reduced by 17 percent every year.  This
year’s Inter-American Water Day was held during the International Year
of Fresh Water, declared by the United Nations General Assembly. The
slogan was "Water: let's not take it for granted."
http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/pr031003.htm
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NEW ZOONOSES BOOK PRESENTS LATEST INFORMATION ON EMERGING DISEASES
The Pan American Health Organization has released a new edition of
"Zoonoses and Communicable Diseases Common to Man and Animals,"
providing a detailed overview of the most important diseases common to
humans and animals. The three-volume series contains information ranging
from the first appearance and most important outbreaks to the latest
scientific knowledge about these diseases and their causative agents.
"Human diseases that have their origins in infected animals, such as
AIDS or Creutzfeldt-Jakob, have highlighted the need for a better
understanding of animal diseases in terms of their epidemiology,
mechanism of transmission to man, diagnosis, prevention and control,"
said PAHO Director Dr. Mirta Roses. The speed of modern travel
facilitates the spread of diseases once confined to specific geographic
areas, as recently occurred with severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS). Animal migration and trade pose a similar threat, as shown by
outbreaks in the United States of West Nile fever and monkey-pox - two
diseases not previously known in the Western Hemisphere. The new edition
provides a detailed overview of the most important zoonotic diseases,
such as anthrax, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, Lyme disease, foot-and-mouth
disease, influenza, plague, Japanese encephalitis, shigellosis,
spongiform encephalopathies, and many others. The information on each
disease covers its first appearance, most important outbreaks, latest
scientific knowledge, and causative agents. It includes etiology,
geographic distribution, symptoms and occurrence in man and animals,
source of infection, mode of transmission, role of animals in the
epidemiology of the disease, diagnostic techniques and prevention and
control measures.  To order the edition, visit the PAHO online bookstore
at http://publications.paho.org/english/index.cfm
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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: THE HEALTH SECTOR RESPONDS
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is one of the most widespread human rights
abuses and public health problems in the world today, affecting as many
as one out of every three women. It is also an extreme manifestation of
gender inequity, targeting women and girls because of their subordinate
social status in society. The consequences of GBV are often devastating
and long-term, affecting women's and girls' physical health and mental
well-being. At the same time, its ripple effects compromise the social
development of other children in the household, the family as a unit,
the communities where the individuals live, and society as a whole.
Violence against Women: The Health Sector Responds, provides a strategy
for addressing this complex problem and concrete approaches for carrying
it out, not only for those on the front lines attending to the women who
live with violence, but also for the decision-makers who may incorporate
the lessons in the development of policies and resources. For those
communities where support for women does not yet exist, the authors hope
that this book will motivate health providers and leaders to more
directly confront the issue of gender-related violence and ensure
support to affected women in resolving their situation.  To download
chapters or to order the entire book online, visit
http://www.paho.org/English/DPM/GPP/GH/VAWhealthsector.htm
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REGIONAL WORKSHOP: IMPROVING THE MEASUREMENT OF POVERTY IN THE AMERICAS:
HEALTH ADJUSTED POVERTY LINES (HAPL) - PAHO / USCB REGIONAL WORKSHOP -
DOCUMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS
The PAHO/USCB Regional Workshop on "Improving the Measurement of Poverty
in the Americas: Health Adjusted Poverty Lines (HAPL)” was held in
Washington, D.C. September 29-30, 2003.  The workshop presented a large
body of literature on the measurement of poverty in the Americas,
including a summary of concepts and methods for the measurement of
poverty in USA, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.  For more
information and a listing of all background documents, visit
http://www.paho.org/English/DPM/SHD/HP/haplwrk-docpres.htm
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MARTIN EICHELBERGER OF THE UNITED STATES WINS THE 2003 ABRAHAM HORWITZ
AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP
The Pan American Health and Education Foundation, a US-based non-profit
partner of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), has awarded the
Abraham Horwitz Award to Dr. Martin R. Eichelberger for his outstanding
contribution to improving health in the Americas. The presentation of
the award was made by the Foundation's Treasurer, Mr. Matthew McHugh, in
an official ceremony during the 44th Directing Council of the Pan
American Health Organization, held in Washington DC on September 22.
"Today we recognize Dr. Eichelberger, a world-renowned pediatric
surgeon, for his far-reaching commitment to children and his movement
beyond the traditional role of a surgeon to become a major international
influence and successful advocate for the prevention of childhood
injury,” said Mr. McHugh. “He has distinguished himself for a lifelong
dedication to the medical and social aspects of child injuries.”  The
Abraham Horwitz Award is intended to stimulate excellence and leadership
in health among persons who work in the Americas and who produce ideas
and work primarily of regional significance. Candidates must have an
outstanding lifetime career in medicine or public health demonstrating
impact on the lives and health of the peoples of Latin America and the
Caribbean. The Award is a tribute to another outstanding regional
leader, Dr. Abraham Horwitz, a Chilean doctor who served as the director
of PAHO for four terms and the President of our Foundation for 25 years.
For information about the call for nominations for the 2004 Abraham
Horwitz Award and other International Award Programs of this Foundation
please visit http://www.paho.org/foundation or write to:
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