PAHO NEWS--February 14, 2002

In this Edition:
-WORLD HEALTH DAY FOCUSES ON ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
-CERVICAL CANCER: FIGHTING A LEADING KILLER IN THE AMERICAS
-CENTENNIAL FLASHBACK: 1927 PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS
-PAHO BARGAIN BOOKS
-RECOMMENDED READING & PRACTICAL REFERENCES
-PERU UPDATE: INTENSE RAINS
-FINAL REPORT ON BIOTERRORISM CONSULTATIONS
-CANADIAN AIDS WORKER WINS $1 MILLION FOR WORK
-FELLOWSHIP POSITIONS AVAILABLE
-JOB POSTING: DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL ADVISOR - KINGSTON, JAMAICA
-JOB POSTING: REDPAC PROGRAM COORDINATOR
-JOB POSTING: INFORMATION SYSTEM CONSULTANT FOR CERVICAL CANCER PROJECT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WORLD HEALTH DAY FOCUSES ON ACTIVE LIFESTYLES

World Health Day 2002, to be celebrated on 7 April, highlights the
importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. A number of
special events are planned in various countries of the Americas.
http://www.paho.org/English/hpp/hpn/whd2002.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CERVICAL CANCER: FIGHTING A LEADING KILLER IN THE AMERICAS

Each year, more than 230,000 women die of cervical cancer, at least 80
percent of them in the developing world. Cervical cancer is the
second-most common form of cancer in women (after breast cancer)
worldwide; in developing countries, it is the leading cause of cancer
deaths in women.  http://www.paho.org/English/DPI/100/100feature06.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CENTENNIAL FLASHBACK: 1927 PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS

In 1927, delegates to the 8th Pan American Sanitary Conference in Lima,
Peru, discussed a wide variety of topics that ranged from the
enforcement of the Pan American Sanitary Code to narcotics addiction,
bubonic plague, child welfare, water supplies, the creation of national
ministries or departments of health, venereal disease, sex education,
tuberculosis, leprosy and industrial hygiene. Also discussed were the
Pan American geography of disease, rat-proofing of ships, fly control,
hospital care and public health developments in the American Republics.
http://www.paho.org/English/DPI/100/flashback.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PAHO BARGAIN BOOKS

The following titles are available through PAHO’s online bookstore for
only $8 USD!
-“Education and Training Needs for Medical Entomology in the Americas”
-“Local Health Systems: An Ongoing Strategy”
-“Primary Health Care and Local Health Systems in the Caribbean”
-“Salt Fluoridation “
-“VI International Conference on the Mycoses”
For more information or to order, visit
http://publications.paho.org/english/bargain.cfm?CFID=265582&CFTOKEN=536
13733
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RECOMMENDED READING & PRACTICAL REFERENCES

-DRINKING WATER, SANITATION-DISASTER & HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
PAHO has compiled a list of important books on the subject of drinking
water and sanitation. http://www.paho.org/English/PED/drinkingwater.htm
-MENTAL HEALTH -DISASTER AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
PAHO has compiled a list of important publications on the subject of
mental health. http://www.paho.org/English/PED/mentalhealth.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PERU UPDATE: INTENSE RAINS

On February 3, a cold front moved from Bolivia into Peru, merging with
another front originating in Brazil. This produced intense rainfall that
sparked floods in the areas of Lima, Cusco, Tumbes, Junín, Moquegua and
Madre de Dios.  Over 1,500 houses were flooded as a result of the
downpour and hundreds of families were affected. Two persons died when
their dwelling collapsed.
Spanish only: http://www.paho.org/spanish/PED/lluvias_peru.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FINAL REPORT ON BIOTERRORISM CONSULTATIONS

The terrorist acts of September against the United States of America
have generated numerous inquiries from the Organization's Member States.
In response to these concerns, the Director of PAHO convened a
consultation meeting of experts on bioterrorism from the Region of the
Americas. The purpose of the consultation was to examine current and
future challenges as well as opportunities facing PAHO and to provide
recommendations for the Organization's technical cooperation in regard
to prevention, control, and response to threats or acts of
bioterrorism.  The final report on this consultation meeting can be
viewed online at:  http://www.paho.org/English/PED/antiterrorism.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CANADIAN AIDS WORKER WINS $1 MILLION FOR WORK

Julio Montaner, one of the world's leading experts in the field of
HIV-AIDS cocktails, has been awarded $1-million for his pioneering work.
Dr. Montaner, the director of clinical activities for the British
Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV-AIDS, said the money will be used
to endow a professorship in health-outcomes research at the University
of British Columbia. The award, from pharmaceutical firm Boehringer
Ingelheim, was presented February 5 in Vancouver.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FELLOWSHIP POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Postdoctoral and staff fellowship positions are available to study the
development and characterization of novel modulators of innate immunity
with a special emphasis on the response to bio-warfare agents.  For more
information, download the following Word document:
http://www.paho.org/English/HDP/HDR/nih.doc
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JOB POSTING: DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL ADVISOR - KINGSTON, JAMAICA

Level: P04/1      Post Number: 4.5353      Closing Date: 3/15/02
Duty Station: Kingston, Jamaica            Tenure: Two Years
DUTIES: Under the general supervision of the Director, Division of
Disease Prevention and Control (HCP) and the direct supervision of the
PAHO/WHO Representative (PWR), the incumbent serves in an advisory
capacity on aspects related to disease prevention and control, and
epidemiological information. View job posting for more information:
http://pahoapl.paho.org/pahoexternalenglish/ASEPage_JobDetail.ASP

For more information or to apply visit:
http://pahoapl.paho.org/pahoexternalenglish/ASEPage_JobList.asp?TS=21102
63426PM&
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JOB POSTING: REDPAC PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Duration: 11 months

Position: Coordinator of the RedPAC program, an external quality
assurance program for cytology laboratories in Latin America. Job
Description: The position involves coordinating the design and
implementation of a quality assurance program (RedPAC) involving over 40
cytology laboratories in 7 Latin American countries and a Reference
Laboratory in Chile. Specific duties will involve, but are not limited
to the
following:

-Overseeing the completion of designated tasks of the Reference Centre;
-Convening the annual meeting of the Directing Committee;
-Coordinating the implementation of a continuing education program for
cytotechnicians and cytopathologists;
-Coordinating training sessions for expert pathologists on laboratory
evaluations and assessments;
-Coordinating laboratory evaluations of RedPAC labs by trained experts;
-Overseeing the creation of a digital bank of cytology images with
varying degrees of interpretive complexity for use in external
evaluation exercises;
-Overseeing the completion of the external evaluation exercises by all
laboratories participating in RedPAC using the digital cytology images;
-Overseeing the collection of cytology results from RedPAC laboratories
and analyzing the results in collaboration with the Reference Centre;
-Reviewing the indicators for a proficient cytology laboratory with a
view to build consensus on the necessary indicators for cytology
laboratories among cytopathologists in Latin America;
-Ensuring the creation of a RedPAC website and disseminating current
scientific information on quality cytology programs through the RedPAC
website;
-Assisting countries in centralizing and establishing a national
reference centre
-Coordinating the introduction of new laboratories into the RedPAC
program.

Skills Required:
-Knowledge and understanding of the management, functions and operations
of cytology laboratories
-Knowledge of cervical cancer screening programs
-Ability to communicate in Spanish and English
For more information or to apply, email [log in to unmask] or
[log in to unmask]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JOB POSTING: INFORMATION SYSTEM CONSULTANT FOR CERVICAL CANCER PROJECT
Duration: 11 months

Job Description: The Information System consultant will support PAHO’s
activities in designing and implementing a cervical cancer information
system in Latin American and Caribbean countries.  For the duration of
the contract, the consultant will be required to complete the
development and implementation of a cervical cancer information system
in El Salvador and in Bolivia to support the country programs.  The
specific tasks will include:

-Collaborating with the authorities of El Salvador to complete the pilot
testing of a cervical cancer information system in El Salvador;
-Documenting the process, database structures and experiences of the
pilot tested information system;
-Assessing the capacities and needs to design a cervical cancer
information system in Bolivia;
-Writing a report and recommendations for developing and piloting the
information system in Bolivia;
-Working with a country-based systems consultant and the Ministry of
Health in Bolivia throughout the design and implementation phase of a
pilot information system;
-Coordinating and working with the epidemiologist and systems design
expert who developed the conceptual model for the information system to
ensure that the information systems designed for El Salvador and Bolivia
are consistent with the conceptual model;
-Collaborating with members of the Alliance for Cervical Cancer
Prevention to harmonize the data elements, design and outputs for a
unified information system.

Skills required:
-Knowledge and experience with databases and information systems
-Knowledge of public health and epidemiology -Knowledge of cervical
cancer prevention and control would be an asset
-Strong interpersonal skills
-Ability to communicate in English and Spanish
For more information or to apply, email [log in to unmask] or
[log in to unmask]


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