[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2009-E2010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     A TRIBUTE TO THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PAN AMERICAN HEALTH 
                              ORGANIZATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 13, 2002

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Pan 
American Health Organization, which celebrates its 100th anniversary 
this year. PAHO is the oldest international health organization in the 
world, and serves as the Regional Office of the Americas for the World 
Health Organization. It is

[[Page E2010]]

headquartered in Washington D.C. and has a U.S.-Mexico Border Field 
Office in El Paso, Texas, as well as country offices in 27 nations 
throughout the Americas and nine scientific and technical centers.
  This year, as we celebrate the Centennial of the Pan American Health 
Organization, we also celebrate the notable health achievements of the 
countries of the Americas, with the support of PAHO.
  One hundred years ago, public health in the Americas was an 
uncoordinated jumble, as individual countries made separate efforts to 
protect themselves and their people against the threat of ``imported'' 
diseases. Yet over the next century, through coordinated action, health 
progress unrivaled in history swept the Western Hemisphere as health 
leaders joined together to fight disease and to bring water, 
sanitation, and health services to millions.
  The achievements of the countries of the Americas, led by the Pan 
American Health Organization over the last century, tell a story of 
ongoing progress: Measles, smallpox and polio have been eradicated from 
the Americas.
  In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001 and 
with the threat of bioterrorism, the countries of the Americas are 
enhancing their emergency preparedness capabilities, improving their 
surveillance and response to outbreaks of infections, and expanding 
their laboratory capacity to diagnose agents used in bio-terrorism. 
Disaster and public health experts are being trained to prepare for and 
manage biological, chemical and radiological incidents.
  A new ``Building Blocks Model for HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Care'' 
program is improving care for the 2.6 million people in the Americas 
who are infected with HIV.
  Life expectancy at birth rose from less than 50 years at the start of 
the last century to 69.8 years in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 
to 76.9 years in North America today.
  Efforts to promote quality control in blood services in the region 
have reduced the risk of diseases transmitted by blood transfusion by 
one-half.
  Water supply and waste disposal services have improved significantly 
in many countries, with coverage exceeding 90 percent in some of them.
  Progress is on track toward elimination of onchocerciasis, targeted 
for 2007.
  Regional information systems have been developed for epidemiological 
surveillance of food borne diseases and for food legislation and 
regulations that both protect and favor international trade.
  Progress toward the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease has been 
stepped up, and the original date for achieving eradication, 2013, has 
been advanced to 2007.
  There has been a 65 percent reduction in leprosy in the region since 
1992.
  A health information system now enables front-line health workers to 
analyze health trends and health inequities between and within 
countries and, on the basis of that analysis, to target the most needy.
  Laws have been passed on a broad spectrum of health issues, including 
health of the elderly, mental health, adolescent health, safe 
motherhood, vaccination, blood banks, and health insurance.
  Intense work in emergency preparedness enabled countries to prepare 
for and mitigate the effects of many natural disasters, including 
Hurricane Mitch and the deadly floods in Venezuela.
  Eighteen countries of the region have established national plans to 
fortify food with micronutrients such as iron, iodine, and vitamin A.
  I would like to commend Sir George A.0. Alleyne of Barbados, for his 
eight years of exemplary service as the Director of the Pan American 
Health Organization. The reputation that PAHO now enjoys with the U.S. 
Congress and the Executive branch is a direct attribute to the 
steadfast efforts by Dr. Alleyne and the excellent work by the entire 
organization.
  I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Mirta Roses Periago of Argentina 
on recently being elected to be the new Executive Director of PAHO. She 
will be the first woman and first Argentine to lead the world's oldest 
international health organization.
  As PAHO enters its second century of service, I hope we can continue 
the path of achievement. The region certainly faces numerous ongoing 
challenges, but together, across regional and national lines, we can 
join in this great effort to improve the lives of everyone living in 
the Americas.

                          ____________________