The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the UNDP announced the winning Global Health Solutions to be highlighted at the Global South-South Development Expo 2009, on 15-17 December 2009. The winners are Lady Health Workers: Saving Children's Lives, Pakistan; the SALTRA Program from Central America; and Fit for School, from the Philippines.

Some 36 million people have been cured of tuberculosis (TB) over the past 15 years through a rigorous approach to treatment endorsed by WHO. New data, released today by WHO, also indicate that up to 8 million TB deaths have been averted, confirming DOTS/the Stop TB Strategy as the most cost-effective approach in the fight against tuberculosis.

A new report shows that member countries of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) made progress last year in implementing new tobacco control measures that promise to save lives and reduce illnesses for years to come.This progress means that an additional 60 million people in the Americas have protection against the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

All countries in the world, and in particular those of the Region of the Americas, have faced the so-called "first wave" of the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic with highly effective, non-pharmaceutical measures such as education and social distancing; they have also used pharmaceutical measures (timely antiviral treatment). The influenza A(H1N1) vaccine now provides a new means to fight the pandemic.