The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the WHO/Europe Regional Office for Europe, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services signed the text for these purposes.
The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that an emergency affecting one corner of the world can quickly spread to other regions, bringing the strongest health systems to a standstill, exposing vulnerabilities such as social inequality and inequality, and threatening global health security.
PAHO, WHO/Europe, and the US Department of Health and Human Services work together in more than 85 countries in the Americas and Europe, a partnership that will now strengthen collaboration in strengthening emergency preparedness, including for pandemics.
It will also work to improve vaccine production through public-private partnerships, combat misinformation related to health and care, support the sector workforce through awareness and training, and support Indigenous healthcare.
Other aspects that will be favored through the agreement are the One Health project with policy formulation in all countries and regions, improved detection and response to antimicrobial resistance, enhanced surveillance of pathogens of concern, and coordination with refugees and migrants with border health systems.
PAHO Director Garbas Barbosa said this new agreement will make it possible to build on existing transatlantic links and form new networks to meet the health needs of people in the Americas and Europe, now and in the future.
For Dr Hans-Henri B. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, it is a way to address many of the challenges common to the Americas and the old continent: global warming, population aging, non-communicable diseases, new pathogens and resurgence. Antibiotic resistance for universal health coverage.
L/CRC