Washington, September 27, 2010 (PAHO) — Ministers of Health of all the countries of the Americas gather from today until Friday at the headquarters of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington, D.C. for their annual Directing Council meeting.

During these five days, the health leaders will analyze the health situation in the region and discuss key resolutions on public health problems facing the Americas.

The agenda for the meeting covers a series of key public health topics including:

• A Plan of Action on Safe Hospitals 
• The Strategy and Plan of Action for the Reduction of Chronic Malnutrition 
• Strengthening Immunization Programs 
• Strategy and Plan of Action for the Elimination of Mother-to-child Transmission of HIV and Congenital Syphilis 
• Strategy and Plan of Action for Chagas Disease Prevention, Control and Care 
• Substance Use and Public Health 

The Directing Council, the governing body of PAHO, is made up of all the health ministers, who meet annually to set health policies and receive new reports on the state of health in the Americas.

PAHO Director Dr. Mirta Roses will present her annual report, offering a panoramic view of the most important public health topics in the America and future challenges in the Organization’s work to improve the quality of life of the people of the region.

One special feature this year is the Sept. 28 observance of the 30th Anniversary of Smallpox Eradication and the establishment of the PAHO Revolving Fund for Vaccine Procurement, with Dr. D.A. Henderson, who led the World Health Organization’s smallpox eradication effort, and Sarah Parker, director of the Edward Jenner Museum in England

PAHO, which also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, has been working since 1902 with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and raise the living standards of their peoples.

Links of Interest:

• Blog: PAHO's 50th Directing Council blog (We invite you to visit and to subscribe)
• 50th Directing Council: Program of meetings and other useful information

For more information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at (202) 974-3459, Communication Office, Pan American Health Organization.