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Priority Communicable Diseases in South America Program
About the PCPCD
The Prevention and Control of Priority Communicable Diseases (PCPCD) Program, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), aims to improve the health of vulnerable and hard to reach populations in four target countries in South America by integrating recognized global and regional strategies. Projects have been implemented in Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru, interfacing Stop TB, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI), Chagas disease, sexually transmitted infections and dengue prevention and control strategies with a gender equality cross cutting component and a continual focus on the sustainability of its achievements.
The PCPCD was initiated in 2002 for an eight year period in the amount of $CAD 12 million.
Click on the target country flags to learn more about project actions:
See Prevention and Control of Priority Communicable Diseases (PCPCD) in a bigger size.
Description of the PCPCD
PAHO is working closely with national counterparts in each of the participating countries to achieve the following objectives: To design and implement a surveillance system for Chagas disease with active community participation including schools in endemic areas of Paraguay; to strengthen vector control and community based surveillance in the Southern Region of Peru (Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna); and, to strengthen epidemiological and entomological surveillance of Chagas disease with community participation in the provinces of El Oro, Guayas, Loja and Manabi in Ecuador.
To promote the adoption of the Integrated Management Strategy for dengue prevention and control (PAHO Directing Council Resolution CD44.R9 2003) and the development of national integrated dengue plans in all participating countries. Support is also provided for the implementation of the clinical attention, surveillance (entomological and epidemiological) and social communication components of the Strategy (EGI-Dengue, available in Spanish).
To promote gender awareness in communicable diseases among health professionals that includes gender sensitivity training, the collection and analysis of health data by sex and the integration of a gender approach in program planning and implementation in
Integrated Health Program in the Paraguayan Chaco
To address the health priorities of the indigenous and creole populations with an intercultural focus and make more effective use of limited human resources using a primary health care approach in the participating communities.
To introduce changes in the academic curricula of health professions (nursing, medicine, public health) in target areas in order to include the principles of the IMCI strategy and improve primary health care services to reduce mortality from diseases and health problems in children under 5 years of age.
To strengthen the capacity to expand the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections in
Tuberculosis
To implement the Stop TB strategy for tuberculosis control among indigenous populations in
| About the PAHO Strategic Fund |
Brochure of the Strategic Fund (
The PAHO Strategic Fund, also known as the Regional Revolving Fund for Strategic Public Health Supplies, was created by PAHO in September 2000 to assist PAHO Member States.
Through the Strategic Fund the procurement of essential medicines and basic public health products takes on a new perspective as it is accompanied by technical support from PAHO in the management of supply systems and the acquisition of low cost products that meet international quality standards.
Main services within the Fund
1. International procurement service
- Medicines (HIV, TB, Malaria, Neglected Diseases, Cancer, other), Laboratory Tests and Insecticides
- When possible, pooled procurement to leverage economies of scale
2. Technical assistance on supply management
- Planning, procurement systems, warehousing and distribution, intellectual property, quality, negotiation, etc.
Objectives of the Strategic Fund
- Improve access and availability of Strategic Public Health Supplies (SPHS) in Member States
- Help strengthen national capacity in supply management (planning, procurement, management and sustainability) of SPHS
- Promote principles and concepts of quality in the procurement and management of SPHS
- Strengthen priority health programs at national level and promote application of normative mandates of PAHO/WHO
Valued Added of the Strategic Fund
Use of the Strategic Fund provides Member States with the following benefits:
• Technical Assistance in Supply Chain Managemento Improve planning, procurement, distribution and sustainability of core supply chain processes
• Assure the Quality of Commodities
o PAHO evaluates quality of suppliers and products for all purchases
• Availability of Capital Account
o Avoid stock-outs during emergencies
• Obtain significant price reduction
o Significant reductions obtained in the region, particularly for ARVs. where savings have up to 80%