PAHO, Canada sign agreement to advance health programs

The Pan American Health Organization and the Government of Canada today signed a four-year agreement to support international health work in the Americas.

Canada, through its Canadian International Development Agency, will provide up to (CAN) $18 million to support PAHO country programs on pandemic influenza preparedness, improving programs to combat HIV and sexually-transmitted diseases, bettering human resources in the health sector, and addressing inequalities that affect vulnerable populations, especially indigenous peoples.

In a signing ceremony at PAHO today, PAHO Director Dr. Mirta Roses said, "We have a long history of cooperation with Canada, and this agreement is a landmark because of the nature of the programs it covers. We are happy to have these partnerships to advance our development work, and this agreement includes a critical component to strengthen health systems, reflecting our values and principles, especially with regard to vulnerable groups and indigenous populations."

Canadian Ambassador to the Organization of American States Graeme C. Clark said the items covered in the agreement are fundamentally important to Canada, which is not only a significant donor to PAHO, but also provides human resources and technical and operational expertise to the Organization.

The new agreement also supports institutional strengthening of PAHO, including the implementation of results-based management and an enhanced policy dialogue with external partners on programmatic approaches, alignment and harmonization of health programs.

Beyond the funding aspects, the agreement is designed to help build a strategic partnership between the Canadian agency and PAHO with predictable, flexible funding and a longer time frame for cooperation, with mechanisms for ongoing consultation and reporting and a regular policy dialogue.

The Pan American Health Organization, founded in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples. It serves as the Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is Canada's lead agency for development assistance. It has a mandate to support sustainable development in developing countries in order to reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, equitable, and prosperous world.