PAHO NEWS:  Press Releases, Job Vacancies, and Other
Information from the Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO) via the Canadian Society for International Health
(CSIH) [log in to unmask]; Technical Representative in
Canada for PAHO

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Infectious Diseases Have Become a Social Problem, PAHO
Says
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Washington, May 20, 1998 -- Infectious diseases "have
become a social problem with tremendous consequences for
the well being of the individual and the world," but new
vaccines and the widespread deployment of under-used
vaccines can save up to 12 million lives a year,
according to Dr. David Brandling-Bennett of the Pan
American Health Organization.

Dr. Bennett, PAHO's Deputy Director, said in a statement
today to the House International Relations Committee at
a hearing on the eradication of infectious diseases: "We
need to recognize infectious diseases as a common threat
that has been ignored, at great cost, for too long, and
to build global ways to confront them.  Many countries,
have failed to invest adequately in the control of
common infectious diseases. Less prevention is now
resulting in rising treatment costs. And the death toll
is grim. What is required is the commitment of the
international community to help countries most at risk
to help themselves. By helping each other, nations
protect the world and themselves."

"Health is today more than ever a global concern.
Worldwide, every week, more than 1 million people travel
between industrialized and developing countries, and
every year, 17 million people die from infectious
diseases.  Rapid air travel and international commerce
in foods and other goods can easily bring in infectious
agents or vectors of disease from anywhere in the
world," Dr. Bennett said. "Population growth combined
with rapid urbanization causes overcrowded and
unhygienic conditions that are breeding grounds for
infectious diseases. Wars, civil turmoil and natural
disasters mean that millions of migrants and refugees
are on the move in conditions that are also fertile for
infectious diseases. Expanding areas of human habitation
place additional millions of people at risk from
pathogens previously rare or unknown as causes of human
disease," he said.

Eradication was a success story when PAHO won the battle
to eradicate smallpox from the Americas back in 1971,
and this success story was extended to worldwide
eradication in 1977.

He said it was important to complete the 'unfinished
business' of eradicating or eliminating diseases which
have already been targeted by the international
community, particularly poliomyelitis, guinea-worm,
leprosy, neonatal tetanus and household transmission of
Chagas disease, to be closely followed by measles and
onchocerciasis.  If additional financial resources
cannot be found, "eradication or elimination will not be
achieved, and these diseases will exploit any easing of
the campaign against them, " he said.

"We are working very hard on the eradication of diseases
but a number of factors hinder our ability to control
these infectious diseases."

For more information please call the Office of Public
Information, (202) 974-3459, Fax (202) 974-3143, 525
Twenty-Third Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20037, USA
http:\\www.paho.org

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World No Tobacco Day
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The theme this year is youth, and the slogan chosen by
the World Health Organization is "Growing up without
tobacco."

The Canadian Society for International Health and The
Pan American Health Organization are organizing a forum
to mark World No Tobacco Day, Friday, May 29, 1998,
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Room 237C, Centre Block,
Houses of Parliament, Ottawa.  Sponsor & Chair: Dr.
Carolyn Bennett, M.P.  Panel members will be David
Sweanor, senior legal counsel for the Non-Smokers'
Rights Association; Dr. Enrique Madrigal, of the
Division of Health Promotion and Protection, Pan
American Health Organization; Dr. Robert Cushman,
Medical Officer of Health for Ottawa-Carleton; Dr.
Andrew Pipe, of the University of Ottawa's Heart
Institute (to be confirmed); and a representative of the
Quebec Lung Association (to be confirmed).

If you plan to attend, please leave a message giving
your name and title at (613) 241-5785, Ext. 326, by 5
p.m. on May 27.

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Vacancy Notice
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Post Title: Regional Advisor on Organization &
Management of Health Services; Level: P.4; Post Number:
.5843; Issue Date: 14 April 1998; Closing Date: 26 May
1998.

Duty Station: Washington, D.C.; Tenure: Two years, first
year probationary period; Division/Program/Office:
Health Systems and Services Development (HSP) Org. &
Manage. of Health Systems & Services (HSO)

SALARY INFORMATION:  Basic Salary: $49,523 at single
rate; $53,196 with primary dependents (per annum net of
taxes); Post Adjustment: $9,607 at single rate; $10,320
with primary dependents (per annum net of taxes).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:  Education:  M.D. degree from a
recognized university with a master's degree in public
health, health administration or health planning; or a
postgraduate degree to the Ph.D. level in health
economics, public health or a field related to health
systems/services with a bachelor's degree in one of the
health or social sciences.  Experience:  At national
level:  Seven years of experience in the public health
field, including activities in health sector reform,
health planning, health sector analysis, organization
and management of health services and the development,
execution, follow-up and evaluation of investment plans
and projects in the health sector. At international
level:  Two years of participation in technical
cooperation projects and activities in areas dealing
with health planning, health sector reform, health
sector analysis, organization and management of health
services and the formulation, review, execution and
evaluation of investment plans and projects in the
health sector.  Languages:  Very good knowledge of
English and Spanish.  Knowledge of French or Portuguese
would be an asset.

For more information, contact:  The Pan American Health
Organization/World Health Organization, 525 Twenty-Third
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037 USA; Fax (202) 974-
3379; Telephone (202) 974-3396; Vacancy Hotline (202)
974-3333     http://www.paho.org

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accents, at http://www.csih.org/paho_ndx.html