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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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CDC Official, Others Win Global Tobacco Award for
No-Tobacco Day
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Washington, DC, May 28, 1998- The World Health Organization gave its
Director's Award for World No-Tobacco Day to a leading Centers for Disease
Control advocate against tobacco use.
Dr. Michael P. Eriksen, Director of the Office on Smoking and Health of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was one of seven honorees in the
Americas, along with New York City Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone, and
groups and individuals in Argentina, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru.
The regional awards were announced by the Pan American Health Organization,
regional office of WHO for the Americas. World No-Tobacco Day is observed
May 31. The official observance of the day, which this year is dedicated to
children and is marked worldwide under the theme "Growing Up Without
Tobacco," was held today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the Brazilian Cancer
Institute.
The award noted that for many years Dr Eriksen has been a leading tobacco
advocate in the fight against the health hazards of tobacco use, especially
in the protection of adolescents. Under Dr Eriksen's leadership, CDC has
worked with other agencies to develop national tobacco prevention strategies
and reduce the demand for tobacco products among young people. He has also
been a leading spokesperson in various public health and policy venues at
the international level to raise awareness about tobacco use prevention.
"Dr. Eriksen is an instrumental and effective leader of collaborative
efforts between the United States and Mexico, Canada, and other rmanent Member of the Latin
American Coordinating Committee on Tobacco Control (CLACCTA) and responsible
for program coordination for the Southern Cone.
The Adventist Church, Ecuador, nominated by the Interinstitutional
Commission on Tobacco Control of Ecuador (CILA) based on its tobacco
control and prevention activities since the 1960s, when the Church took the
initiative to declare a "Day Without Tobacco" later adopted by WHO as a
commemorative day on 31 May each year. The Church was cited for its key
role in mobilizing a critical mass of students to celebrate World No-Tobacco
Day every year, and for its efforts which "have contributed much to tobacco
control in Ecuador and provide a positive example for other religious and
social organizations."
The National Association Against Cancer of Panama, whose basic mission is to
combat and prevent cancer, was cited for its leadership role in the field of
tobacco control, through resource mobilization, networking, advocacy and
broad educational programs. The citation said the group, known by its
Spanish acronym ANCEC, " has been particularly involved in combating the
sale of tobacco to minors, as well as youth mobilization through highly
recognized programs, such as "Cazadores de Humo" (Smoke Busters)."
Dr Carlos Farias Alburqueque of Peru, Vice-President and Coordinator of the
World No-Tobacco Day Campaign in Peru, received an award for his involvement
in tobacco control activities. He was cited as "a key resource for youth
mobilization throughout the year and on World No-Tobacco Day for many years.
He has also played an important role in coordinating prevention activities
between the Ministries of Health and Education, and at the same time he has
enthusiastically and effectively participated as a health educator in
different schools in Lima, Peru."
The Chinese Community Women Association of Peru was cited for its efforts in
mobilizing industry, banks and commerce, as well as many school and
university centers, the mass media and the public to gather a display of
significant messages in a public place in Lima.
"Trends in young people's smoking must be reversed if we really care about
the health of our children - the most valuable asset in every country", said
Dr José Serra, Brazil's Minister of Health. "With tobacco poised to become
the leading cause of death in the world within two or three decades, policy-
makers have a clear responsibility to create conditions for children to
grow up without tobacco," he said.
Speaking at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- the world's
largest exporter of tobacco leaf, but also home to an effective public
health program to control tobacco - Dr Fernando Antezana, Deputy Director-
General ad interim of WHO, stressed that "unless tough actions are taken
immediately, the tobacco epidemic will prematurely claim the lives of about
250 million children and young people alive today".
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Vacancy Notice
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Advisor on Healthy Aging; Level P.4; Post Number 4.6119; Issue Date: 28 May
1998; Closing Date: 9 July 1998; Duty Station:Washington, D.C.; Tenure: Two
years, first year probationary; Division/Program/Office: Division of Health
Promotion and Protection (HPP) Family Health and Population Program (HPF).
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: An M.D. degree or a Ph.D. degree in one of
the social or behavioral sciences with specialized training to the Master's
level in a field related to the epidemiology of aging and gerontology. A
postgraduate degree in public health would be an asset. Experience: At
national level: Seven years experience managing programs involving aging or
gerontology issues including: multidisciplinary team management, fiscal
planning and responsibility, development and management of grants,
experience in adapting the health promotion approach to active aging and
research. At international level: Two years of participation in technical
cooperation programs and activities in the areas of aging and gerontology.
Languages: Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with a working
knowledge of the other. For more information, contact: 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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