Basseterre , St. Kitts, May 03, 2006: Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Dr. Mirta Roses Periago said that one of her objectives during her term as director is to strengthen the organization's ties with participating countries.
Dr. Roses, a physician by profession explained her work in the Caribbean prior to becoming PAHO Director. She said her country of birth is Argentina where she was an infectious disease and public health specialist. She began work in the Caribbean in 1984 at PAHO's Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) as Senior Epidemiologist which enabled her to visit St. Kitts and Nevis several times. Her career then took her to the Dominican Republic, Bolivia and Washington where she was the assistant to former Director of PAHO Sir George Alleyne. Following his retirement she became the new elected Director of PAHO.
The PAHO Director stated that support for all countries will be increased particularly those of the Caribbean. In order to do so she said there will be restructuring and discussions with Ministers of Health and health personnel on how to provide more technical support and grow closer to the various countries.
Dr. Roses elaborated that her personal goals include completing the tasks in what she terms the "unfinished agenda." She said that this includes things that are mostly related to the millennium development goals. She continued that while much progress had been made there were still pockets that have to be addressed in order to fully complete the tasks.
The Director of PAHO said that her second goal was "documenting the achievements" such as the supporting role that PAHO has played in increasing the life expectancy of persons living in the participating countries. She said that in some areas the life expectancy rose from 72 and 73 to 78 and 79 years of age. She explained that the appropriate investments have to be made to protect these achievements such as safeguarding health systems, ensuring universal access to health and improving national insurances to cope with an aging population.
The third goal she termed "facing the challenges" which she said PAHO has to do pertaining to new health problems like communicable diseases including HIV/AIDS.
