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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) http://www.csih.org; Technical Representative in
Canada for PAHO
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World Mental Health Day 1999
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World Mental Health Day was observed October 8, 1999 at
the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) with a
special panel of experts who discussed this year's theme,
"Overcome Depression."
The experts included Carol Cober of the American
Association of Retired Persons, Dr. Itzhak Levav of
PAHO's Mental Health program, Dr. Marta Pelaez of PAHO's
Aging and Health program, and Dr. Eliot Sorel of the
Washington Psychiatric Society. Dr. David Brandling-
Bennett, PAHO's Deputy Director, opened the program, and
Dr. Jaime Ayalde of PAHO's retired persons group
participated in the panel.
World and Pan American Mental Health Day is observed
every October to draw attention to problems of mental
health. While there have been dramatic improvements in
physical health in most countries, particularly
unprecedented improvements in mortality rates, the mental
component of health has not improved over the past 100
years. In fact, in many instances it has deteriorated
significantly. Average life expectancy has risen, infant
mortality rates have plummeted, smallpox has been
eradicated and many other infectious diseases brought
under stricter control. In sharp contrast, mental,
behavioral and social health problems, involving hundreds
of millions of individuals, have become much bigger
contributors to the global health burden.
Worldwide, major depressive disorders affect some 340
million persons, alcohol-related problems affect 288
million, some 60 million people are mentally retarded.
Between 10 and 20 million people attempt suicide
annually, and about 1 million of them complete it.
Also, the rapidly rising numbers of persons affected by
violent conflicts, civil wars and disasters, and the
growing number of displaced persons will contribute to
psycho-social problems and interpersonal violence within
communities. Such populations have been systematically
shown to have increased rates of mental disorders,
including post-traumatic stress, depression and
alcoholism.
In the Americas and worldwide, there are many categories
of people who, because of extremely difficult
circumstances, are at special risk of being affected by
mental problems. Amongst them are persons living in
extreme poverty, such as slum-dwellers; children and
adolescents experiencing disrupted nurturing, abused
women, abandoned elderly people, others traumatized by
violence, such as the victims of armed conflicts,
migrants, including refugees, and many indigenous
persons.
PAHO has begun an initiative to control affective
disorders at the community level, incorporating primary
health care users, family members, community resources
and specialized services to identify and treat
depression. PAHO experts say 80 to 90 percent of those
who suffer depression can be treated effectively.
For further information contact: Daniel Epstein, tel
(202) 974-3459, fax (202) 974-3143, Office of Public
Information, email [log in to unmask], Internet:
http://www.paho.org
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PAHO Vacancy Notices
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Vacancy Notice 99/PAHO/41; Post Title: Advisor on Health
Promotion and Protection; Level: P.4; Post Number:
4.0467; Issue Date: 10 September 1999; Closing Date: 22
October 1999.
Duty Station: San Salvador, El Salvador; Tenure: Two
years, first year probationary period;
Division/Program/Office: PAHO/WHO Representation, El
Salvador; Division of Health Promotion and Protection
(HPP).
Salary Information: Basic Salary: $50,767 at single rate;
Post Adjustment: $8,072 at single rate;
Hardship/Mobility: $5,892 at single rate.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Education: A university degree in
one of the health, social or managerial sciences, with a
postgraduate degree to at least the Master's level in
health promotion, community health or public health.
Experience: At national level: Seven years of
progressively more responsible operational, supervisory
and managerial experience in developing, implementing and
evaluating health promotion and prevention programs and
activities including health services management and
development related to the health of children,
adolescents, women and men. At international level: Two
years of participation in technical cooperation programs
and activities involving the delivery of health promotion
and protection, family health and related services.
Languages: Very good knowledge of Spanish with a working
knowledge of English.
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Vacancy Notice 99/PAHO/42; Post Title: Director,
Bioethics Program; Level: P.5; Post Number: .6162; Issue
Date: 10 September 1999; Closing Date: 22 October 1999;
Duty Station: Santiago, Chile; Tenure: Two years, first
year probationary; Division/Program/Office: Division of
Health and Human Development (HDP).
Salary Information: Basic Salary: $59,963 at single rate;
Post Adjustment: $12,652 at single rate;
Hardship/Mobility: $2,266 at single rate.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Education: University degree in one
of the health or social sciences and a master's degree in
public health or a field related to bioethics. An M.D.
or a Ph.D. degree in a related discipline would be an
asset.
Experience: At national level: Seven years of experience
at a senior, scientific or technical level in major
programs or activities related to bioethics. At
international level: Five years of managerial experience
in the identification, definition and application of
broad technical cooperation policies and strategies in
bioethics. Languages: Very good knowledge of Spanish and
English. A working knowledge of Portuguese would be an
asset.
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For more information on job vacancies, contact the Pan
American Health Organization / World Health Organization,
525 Twenty-Third Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037 USA
Fax (202) 974-3379; Vacancy Hotline: (202) 974-3333
http://www.paho.org
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This document is available, with full formatting and
accents, at http://www.csih.org/paho_ndx.html
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