The Director of the PAHO / WHO Subregional Program for South America, Paolo Balladelli met today with the Secretary General of the Andean Community of Nations, Jorge Hernando Pedraza, in a first meeting to analyze the prospects of strengthening collaboration between the two entities, with a focus on accelerating the response of the countries of the subregion to the pandemic and other health priorities.
Paolo Balladelli, surgeon and diplomat, who assumed the position of Director of the PAHO / WHO (SAM) Subregional Program for South America on August 9 in Lima, paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary General of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) in the facilities of that entity, with the purpose of exploring alternatives to consolidate collaboration in matters of protection of public health of the populations of the subregion.
Among the topics developed, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic was addressed, including border vaccination of indigenous populations, seeking to complement the actions of PAHO / CAN and others undertaken by ACTO (Organization of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty); the food security of the populations, put to the test by the pandemic situation; the production of and access to health supplies such as vaccines, tests, protective equipment, in order to support the subregion in strengthening the resilience of health systems in the face of future crises; the health of indigenous peoples and the dialogue of knowledge; strengthening capacities at borders.
The two officials insisted on the need to articulate between both entities the different aspects of sustainable development – health, food, economy, trade, environment – to close the gaps that exist for the populations of the subregion in achieving the goals of the agenda. 2030. Although the current pandemic is presented as a challenge, opportunities are emerging to restore the balance between man, animal and nature – One Health – necessary to avoid future pandemics.
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