PAHO's vision of knowledge sharing entails the efficient and effective use of knowledge and information in support of PAHO's mission, namely:

Taking the lead in the strategic collaborative efforts among Member States and other partners; promoting equal access to health; combating disease and improving the quality of life and life expectancy of the people of the Americas.

In order to achieve this vision, we are undertaking the establishment and maintenance of an institutional environment in which knowledge and information are recognized as tangible and critical resources for PAHO's mission; its support of technical cooperation (TC) functions and the Orqanization's role as leader and partner when networking with interested parties.

To reach the desired state of being an efficient and effective knowledge-based Organization involves responding to the weaknesses and opportunities that have been identified after a very thorough analysis. This has required far-reaching changes that involve all levels of the Organization.

Likewise, we know that the narrowing of the gap between the status quo and the desired future of knowledge sharing in the Organization, in line with the programmatic priorities of the 2003-2007 Strategic Plan, will be achieved by establishing an environment characterized by four "desired states":

PAHO as an authoritative source on health information and knowledge
PAHO as an effective collaboration-based organization
PAHO as a learning organization
PAHO as a partnership- and network-building organization

PAHO considers that it cannot be self-sufficient in matters of information and therefore needs to work in networks with partners that enable the widening of local and regional capacities, thus multiplying the social capital available in our countries.

The daily changes we face with the evolution of the Internet and the emerging information technologies have forced us to revisit the traditional ways of accessing and disseminating information. Keeping in mind the evolution of technology as well as the recommendations of the World Summit of the Information Society, we have seized upon this notion to improve our delivery of technical cooperation in health to our Member Nations.

Access to health information is an inherent part of Human Rights, in pursuit of the highest possible level of health of individuals and families in this 21st century.

Mirta Roses Periago
Director, PAHO/WHO