PAHO Director Urges Stronger Primary Healthcare in the Americas

Jarbas Barbosa da Silva, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), said the Americas need a more efficient primary healthcare system to tackle prevalent health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.

Speaking at UNAM’s School of Medicine, Barbosa emphasized the need to ensure that primary care physicians are adequately equipped to provide accurate diagnoses and effective treatments. He reiterated that healthcare should be a universal right, not a privilege, while acknowledging the economic challenges many countries face in the wake of the pandemic.

Barbosa also stressed the importance of integrating human, animal, and environmental health to prevent emerging public health threats. He cited recent avian influenza outbreaks in the United States as an example, underscoring the importance of robust epidemiological surveillance throughout the region.

Currently, 30 countries in the Americas have trained teams and personnel dedicated to monitoring emerging viruses, improving their ability to respond to future health crises.