PAHO News -- August 22, 2002

PAHO News is also available on the Web!
http://www.csih.org/synergy/synergy.html

In this issue:
-SPECIAL PAHO CENTENNIAL ISSUE OF "PERSPECTIVES IN HEALTH" MAGAZINE
-HEALTH OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE: A CHALLENGE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
-PAHO'S DEFINITION OF HEALTH PROMOTION
-GENOMICS AND THE WORLD OF HEALTH
-WHO CALLS FOR STRONG FOCUS ON HEALTH PROMOTION FOR WOMEN
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SPECIAL PAHO CENTENNIAL ISSUE OF "PERSPECTIVES IN HEALTH" MAGAZINE

As part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Pan American
Health Organization, a special centennial edition of "Perspectives in
Health" has just been published and is now available online at
www.paho.org. The issue features essays by five distinguished authors
exploring future developments in immunization, emerging diseases, the
life sciences, health promotion and international cooperation in public
health. The articles are: "A New Guard, a Second Century," by Sir George
Alleyne; "Protecting Our Progeny: The Future of Vaccines," by Sir Gustav
Nossal; "Hurrying Toward Disaster?" by C. J. Peters; "The Next
Revolution: Who's Ready, Who's Not?" by Juan Enríquez and Rodrigo
Martínez; and "The Future Value of Health," by Ilona Kickbusch.  If you
would like to receive the printed edition, contact:
Donna Eberwine, Editor
Office of Public Information
Pan American Health Organization/WHO
525 23rd Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20037
Tel. (202) 974-3122
email: [log in to unmask]
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HEALTH OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE: A CHALLENGE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

Although the term "indigenous people" in the Americas is widely used, it
is a generalization that encompasses more than 400 different ethnic
groups with different beliefs and different health practices. This
diversity presents a challenge for public health in the Americas, where
indigenous peoples are often isolated. Serious health and social
problems exist for the estimated forty-three million indigenous peoples.
Recent studies have indicated that these peoples are among the poorest
and most disadvantaged. Indigenous communities have higher rates of
avoidable mortality and morbidity and lower life expectancy at birth,
and many of them do not have regular access to essential health care due
to economic, geographical or cultural barriers. In response to this
situation, PAHO created the Health of Indigenous Peoples Initiative in
1993.  The initiative signifies a commitment by PAHO and its Member
States to work with indigenous peoples to improve their health and well
being. It is also a recognition of the value and need to conserve
indigenous cultural heritage and knowledge.  For the full feature
article, visit: http://www.paho.org/English/DPI/100/100feature32.htm.
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PAHO'S DEFINITION OF HEALTH PROMOTION

Five decades ago, health promotion was described thus: "Health is
promoted through decent life conditions and standards, good working
conditions, education, physical activity, rest and recreation.
Therefore, health is not only the absence of disease, but something
positive, a positive attitude toward life and acceptance of life's
responsibilities." (H. Sigerist, 1941). The idea of health promotion as
a strategy for public health came from the Lalonde report "New
perspectives on the Health of the Canadians" (Canada, 1974). In this
report, social and environmental factors and lifestyles were recognized
as determinants of health. The report was one of the fundamental
documents for the debate that culminated in the adoption of the Ottawa
Charter (Canada 1986). The Ottawa Charter still represents the essential
formulation of the health promotion concept and states clearly that any
action in this sense means to build healthy public policies, create a
supportive setting, strengthen community action, develop personal
abilities, and reorient health services (Annual Report of the Director,
PAHO 2001). For more information on PAHO's definition of health
promotion, visit: http://www.paho.org/English/HPP/hppDefinition.htm.
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GENOMICS AND THE WORLD OF HEALTH

"Genomics and the World of Health," published by the World Health
Organization, is now available from Renouf Books. The report comes on
the heels of the sequencing of the human genome. The remarkable progress
in the field of genomics research could lead to a tremendous potential
benefit to health care globally.  Specific molecular targets for therapy
will be found for treating communicable and genetic diseases as well as
for chronic ones including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, the
major psychoses, and many others.  However, the report also warns of a
number of technological risks and ethical, social and economic
implications of genomics.  For more information on this publication,
visit the Renouf website: www.renoufbooks.com.
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WHO CALLS FOR STRONG FOCUS ON HEALTH PROMOTION FOR WOMEN

In early July, one component of the Women's Health Initiative, a large
study of the health effects of hormonal replacement therapy, was halted
because post-menopausal women who used a specific combination of
estrogen and progestogen were found to be at increased risk for
cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. While these women were also at
reduced risk for hip fracture and colorectal cancer, the health risks
for women using the combination therapy were determined to exceed the
health benefits. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) showed
that proven, well-established and inexpensive measures continue to be
safe alternatives for the prevention of chronic diseases like
osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer.
http://www.who.int/inf/en/note2002-03.html
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