Region of Americas
Dr. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva, Jr.
Director of PAHO
I join Member States in celebrating the many remarkable achievements in public health across the Americas during 2024. Remaining committed to its mission, throughout 2024, the WHO Region of the Americas/Pan American Health Organization (AMRO/PAHO) mobilized collaborative efforts along with our Member States and other partners to promote equity in health, to control and eliminate diseases, and to improve the quality of life of the peoples of the Americas. Achievements include the elimination of communicable diseases, advances in preventing and controlling noncommunicable diseases, strengthening of primary health care, progress in digital transformation, innovations in regional vaccine manufacturing, advances in strengthening national regulatory authorities, and PAHO’s first participation in the G20, among others.
AMRO/PAHO worked during 2024 to create a unified vision for primary care, which is the backbone of all health systems, an instrument for equity, our first line of defense against outbreaks, and our best investment to improve health indicators. Through the Better Care for NCDs and Disease Elimination initiatives, AMRO/PAHO is committed to supporting countries in strengthening the integration of services, training health workers, and reaching underserved groups with innovative medicines and technologies.
We have successfully positioned the Organization as a regional and global leader in public health and forged alliances with partners worldwide to advance the health agenda. At the same time, we have looked internally at the measures needed to achieve greater resilience within the Secretariat through the PAHO Forward initiative. I am dedicated to fostering a culture of efficiency, transparency, and accountability, as well as strengthening the presence of PAHO/WHO in countries.
At this critical juncture in our journey toward the 2030 targets, our midterm assessment has presented an opportunity to take stock of our progress, review performance, and reflect on the most effective and pragmatic measures we can take to achieve the most significant impact in the Region. Notwithstanding the numerous challenges that continue to hold back progress, we remain steadfast in our dedication to ensuring the highest attainable health for all people in the region.
PROGRESS ON THE TRIPLE BILLION TARGETS
Regional Aggregation
These charts illustrate the contributions of various tracer indicators which are driving progress toward the Triple Billion targets for universal health coverage, health emergencies and healthier populations. Each stacked bar shows the relative contribution of these tracer indicators over time, highlighting both positive gains and areas where progress has reversed. The overlaid lines indicate the net impact of outcome indicators associated with each of the Triple Billion targets, offering a broader view of how health impact is evolving.
WHO CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS HEALTH OUTCOMES
Regional Aggregation of the Output Prioritization
Overview of the financial implementation of the prioritized outputs
Highlighted Results
- Universal health coverage
- Health emergencies protection
- Healthier populations
- Effective and efficient WHO
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AM-1_Advancing primary health care: 10 countries strengthen their health systems
In 2024, the Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas, led by the WHO Region of the Americas/Pan American Health Organization (AMRO/PAHO), the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank, expanded support to 10 countries in strengthening their health systems based on the primary health care (PHC) approach. These countries have successfully negotiated more than US$ 3 billion in concessional financing for health systems, demonstrating their collective dedication to strengthening health care infrastructure.
Launched in December 2023, the Alliance supports the development of national investment plans for PHC and evidence-based interventions tailored to each country's specific needs, aiming for sustainable improvements in the Region’s health systems. El Salvador is the latest country to join the initiative. The Alliance has been instrumental in bringing together the health and finance sectors to create efficient and effective strategies to address health needs with a focus on strengthening PHC.
AMRO/PAHO’s technical cooperation to countries in strengthening health service networks and PHC, led to significant improvements in health care access, thereby reducing health inequities and promoting culturally adaptable care models. -
AM-1_Aiming for zero maternal deaths: a new strategy for maternal health
The WHO Region of the Americas/Pan American Health Organization (AMRO/PAHO) launched a strategy in 2024 to accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality across the Region, with a focus on primary health care, intersectoral collaboration, gender equality and women’s rights as the foundation for this transformation. The strategy targets 12 priority countries, which account for approximately 90% of maternal deaths in the Region, to address the root causes of maternal mortality, such as inadequate access to quality care and social determinants of health, particularly for the most vulnerable women.
AMRO/PAHO also launched the "Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths" call to action, advocating for intersectoral collaboration, gender equality and the establishment of legal frameworks to protect women's rights. The strategy highlights that nine out of 10 maternal deaths could be prevented with universal access to quality maternal care and modern contraceptive methods, emphasizing the crucial role of the health sector in reducing maternal mortality. -
AM-1_Aiming to be the first Region to eliminate cervical cancer
In 2024, the WHO Region of the Americas/Pan American Health Organization (AMRO/PAHO) led efforts to achieve the goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health issue by promoting widespread human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. This action aims to prevent the primary cause of cervical cancer, along with screening and treatment. These combined measures provide a clear path to elimination in alignment with global targets.
Significant progress has been made, as 48 countries and territories in the Region have already introduced the HPV vaccine. Nonetheless, coverage varies widely, with very few countries achieving vaccination rates over 80%, while others remain below 10%. AMRO/PAHO is working to address gaps through its Disease Elimination Initiative, ensuring that all countries have access to safe, affordable HPV vaccines and diagnostic tools through its Regional Revolving Funds. For example, Antigua and Barbuda introduced HPV testing with AMRO/PAHO support and is utilizing the Regional Revolving Fund for Strategic Public Health Supplies to procure related supplies. Brazil has screened over 80% of women for cervical cancer and introduced a nationally produced HPV test as part of its national cervical cancer elimination plan, which is currently undergoing external validation for potential use in other countries. -
AM-1_Expanding care for noncommunicable diseases: HEARTS in the Americas
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, remain the leading causes of ill health, disability and death in the Region of the Americas. In 2024, significant progress was made in tackling this burden through PAHO’s Better Care for NCDs: Accelerating actions in primary health care initiative, which aims to integrate NCD care into primary health care across the Region. As part of this, and within the framework of the HEARTS in the Americas initiative, the WHO Region of the Americas/Pan American Health Organization (AMRO/PAHO) is working with 33 countries to implement this model. It is now available in over 6500 health centres – more than double the number in 2023. Eight of these countries have already achieved coverage in more than 80% of their primary care facilities, marking significant progress in access to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of cardiovascular diseases. Over 4 million people are now receiving standardized hypertension treatment through the HEARTS program, with an impressive 62% achieving blood pressure control.
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AM-1_Reducing vaccine import dependence through regional vaccine development
In 2024, the WHO Region of the Americas/Pan American Health Organization (AMRO/PAHO), continued its efforts to reduce the reliance of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean on imported health technologies, through its Innovation and Regional Production Platform to advance manufacturing of vaccines and other health technologies.
A key initiative is the groundbreaking messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine development project against human avian influenza, launched in collaboration with Sinergium Biotech in Argentina under the Medicines Patent Pool and WHO mRNA Technology Transfer Programme. The implementation of this initiative, which aims to accelerate the production of mRNA vaccines and thereby strengthen pandemic preparedness, reflects AMRO/PAHO’s commitment to fostering regional self-sufficiency in health technologies by sharing expertise, technology and materials among local manufacturers, such as Sinergium Biotech in Argentina and Bio-Manguinhos/FIOCRUZ in Brazil, to establish a sustainable, region-specific vaccine development ecosystem to ensure that the Region is better equipped to handle future health crises.
In addition, in 2024, Member States accessed about 230 million doses, 40 million syringes and 10 million diagnostic tests, through the Regional Revolving Funds. This expanded portfolio enables AMRO/PAHO to better meet country needs and support efforts towards the regional Disease Elimination and Better Care for NCDs initiatives. -
AM-1_Regaining measles-free status and progress in elimination of other diseases
After years of dedication from the WHO Region of the Americas/Pan American Health Organization (AMRO/PAHO), the Region regained its measles-free status in 2024, with Brazil and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela certified as having achieved elimination. This milestone, first reached in 2016, marks the Region's recovery after reporting just 73 cases in 2023 – the lowest ever. It is important to note that the recent identification of multiple measles outbreaks and cases, including some fatal ones, in countries and territories puts this achievement at risk. Additionally, vaccination coverage for the first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine increased for the first time since 2019 to 87%. AMRO/PAHO supported countries in strengthening immunization programmes, integrating them into primary health care and supporting vaccination campaigns.
The PAHO Disease Elimination Initiative, aimed at eliminating over 30 communicable diseases and related conditions by 2030, has celebrated key successes: Suriname completed three years without indigenous malaria transmission. The Region also celebrated completing 30 years without wild polio virus, and Belize, Jamaica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. In addition, Brazil eradicated lymphatic filariasis, and Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador and Panama launched plans for the elimination of several diseases in 2024. -
AM-2_Mitigating severity of historic dengue epidemic through effective regional response
Despite experiencing the largest dengue epidemic since 1980 with over 12.7 million reported cases, the WHO Region of the Americas has managed the situation effectively, maintaining a low proportion of severe cases and fatalities. More than 21 000 severe cases were reported, yet the mortality rate remained below 1%.
This outcome is attributed to the Region’s efforts, including the strengthening of primary health care and the implementation of the WHO Region of the Americas/Pan American Health Organization’s Integrated Management Strategy for Arboviral Disease Prevention and Control in the Americas. This Strategy emphasizes vector surveillance and control to reduce dengue transmission, strengthens epidemiological and laboratory surveillance, trains health workers to ensure quality care, and promotes social communication and community engagement, which are key to eliminating mosquito breeding sites in households. -
AM-2_Strengthening pandemic preparedness
In 2024, the WHO Region of the Americas/Pan American Health Organization (AMRO/PAHO) helped countries of Latin America and the Caribbean mobilize US$ 84 million through the Pandemic Fund, a multilateral financing mechanism to enhance pandemic preparedness in the Region. The efforts focused on strengthening disease surveillance, improving laboratory systems and building a more robust health care workforce.
These preparedness initiatives are part of AMRO/PAHO’s ongoing support for the Region’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its efforts to prepare for future health emergencies, building on the lessons learned from the pandemic. While the Region celebrates a shift away from COVID-19 as a global health emergency, the AMRO/PAHO remains committed to advocating for stronger regional resilience, securing sustainable financing and supporting countries in strengthening their preparedness and response for future pandemics. -
AM-4_Driving digital health transformation and expanding information systems
Collaboration between the WHO Region of the Americas/Pan American Health Organization (AMRO/PAHO) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) helped expand access to digital health services across Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on improving digital infrastructure and ensuring interoperable health information systems. In 2024, 20 countries participated in initiatives, supported by over US$ 900 million in IDB loans, for transforming health systems to enhance pandemic preparedness and improve access to primary health care.
AMRO/PAHO also strengthened its collaboration with the World Bank and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) to advance the implementation of Information Systems for Health (IS4H) and accelerate digital health transformation. Altogether, IS4H investments reached US$ 1.3 billion from the IDB, World Bank and CAF through loans negotiated with countries.
Notably, AMRO/PAHO implemented the Pan-American Highway for Digital Health project, which aims to enable cross-border interoperability while improving access to health records, including in remote areas. With the PAHO All-in-One Telehealth Package, which was developed by AMRO/PAHO based on international standards for interoperability and available through the Regional Revolving Funds, specialized health care can be made accessible even to the most isolated communities. -
AM-4_Strengthening leadership and positioning in the Region and globally
In 2024, the Regional Office for the Americas provided leadership and positioning at global, regional, subregional and national levels influencing policy decisions, further consolidating the position of the WHO Region of the Americas/Pan American Health Organization (AMRO/PAHO) as the leading health authority in the Region. The historic presence at the G20 hosted by Brazil in 2024, where AMRO/PAHO was invited for the first time as a regional organization, allowed it to engage in high-level meetings of importance to health in the Region. At the UN General Assembly, AMRO/PAHO organized high-level events and held bilateral meetings with current and potential partners, reinforcing its commitment to global partnerships. Through this and other activities, AMRO/PAHO mobilized US$ 300 million, demonstrating capacity to ensure vital resources for health initiatives.
Under the PAHO Forward initiative, AMRO/PAHO continued to adopt measures to strengthen the efficiency, transparency and accountability of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau. It also strengthened the presence, positioning and visibility of the Organization in countries, with the launch of the PAHO Forward 2.0 Plan of Action in September 2024.
LESSONS LEARNED
Reporting from the ground
How WHO is driving impact where it matters most
