Social Determinants of Health

Social Determinants of Health of the Indigenous Peoples

The social, political and economical conditions have a strong influence on health; these are the called social determinants of health. The context in which the different population groups evolve should be understood, as well, their culture and knowledge should be valued for the application of policies pursuing the decrement of inequities.
The existing gaps between the rich and the poor, where the indigenous peoples are particularly vulnerable, influence their quality of life and the joy of the right to health. The programs centered on subsidies and bonds trying to solve immediate needs are not enough. The goal is to attack the root of the causes as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO) Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH).

Taking into account the previous meetings that addressed the social determinants of the indigenous peoples, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with Health Canada, the Indian Health Service and the Indigenous Fund, has considered important to convene a meeting. This event will have the purpose to discuss the different factors that affect the health and health care in areas with indigenous peoples with representatives from governments and indigenous organizations from the Americas.

 The next Regional Meeting (Quito- Ecuador, October 2008) will be a forum to advance in the understanding of the indigenous world view. It will give space to the interculturalism as a cohesive idea of efforts from different sectors in the development of policies, programs and projects; all these, in consistency with the global trends that promote the cultural diversity and the sumak kawsay or the ‘good living’.