PAHO’s 2024 annual report details health security achievements in the Americas at HealthBulance.

Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) today formally adopted by consensus the world's first Pandemic Agreement. The landmark decision by the 78th World Health Assembly culminates more than three years of intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and driven by the goal of making the world safer from – and more equitable in response to – future pandemics. 05/20/2025

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Historic agreement to be considered for adoption Tuesday in plenary of the AssemblyGeneva, Switzerland, 19 May 2025 (WHO) — World Health Organization Member States, meeting today in Committee A of the World Health Assembly, approved a resolution that calls for the adoption of an historic global compact to make the world safer from future… 05/20/2025

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World Health Organization Member States, meeting today in Committee A of the World Health Assembly, approved a resolution that calls for the adoption of an historic global compact to make the world safer from future pandemics. The WHO Pandemic Agreement will next be considered for final adoption by the Assembly on Tuesday during the plenary session. 05/20/2025

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In a landmark public health achievement, Papua New Guinea (PNG) has been validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem. Trachoma, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) and the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer poses a public health threat in the country. 05/19/2025

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Geneva, Switzerland, 19 May 2025 (PAHO) — The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has called for urgent action to strengthen primary health care as a way to achieve health equity and address persistent gaps in the care of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health. He also urged improving access to… 05/19/2025

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Washington, D.C., May 19, 2025 (PAHO) – Researchers, activists, civil society organizations, and journalism organizations from Canada, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay, as well as government agencies from Brazil, have been recognized with World Health Organization (WHO) World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2025 Awards at the 78th World… 05/19/2025

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized four countries – the Republic of Austria, the Kingdom of Norway, the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Singapore – for their exemplary efforts in eliminating industrially produced trans fats from their food supplies. These countries have implemented best-practice policies alongside effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to promote public health. 05/19/2025

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Mauritania as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the seventh country in WHO’s African Region to achieve this significant milestone. The validation certificate was received by Honorable Abdallahi Sidi Mohamed Wedih, Minister of Health and Aïcha Vall Vergès, Ambassador of Mauritania to Switzerland at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly. 05/19/2025

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Geneva, Switzerland, May 19, 2025 (PAHO) - Within the framework of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, met with the heads of delegation from the countries of the Americas to discuss two crucial issues on the Assembly's agenda: the pandemic agreement and the WHO's… 05/19/2025

---

Washington D.C. 16 May 2025 (PAHO) – While countries of the Americas continue to make progress towards the prevention and control of hypertension, on the eve of World Hypertension Day, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) calls for more to be done at the primary health care level to tackle this principal risk factor for cardiovascular… 05/17/2025

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Since October, Ontario has recorded more than 1,400 measles cases linked to an outbreak that began at a large gathering with guests from Mennonite communities in New Brunswick. 05/09/2025

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That brings the province’s tally of probable and confirmed cases to 1,440 since an outbreak began in October. 05/08/2025

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05/08/2025

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Researchers have found that the risk of death due to Alzheimer's disease is markedly lower in taxi and ambulance drivers compared with hundreds of other occupations. And the reason could be that these drivers develop certain structural changes in their brains as they work. 05/06/2025

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The Ford government was forced to pay back 353 claims after supply issues for palliative and home care patients which came after it awarded a new medical contract. 05/06/2025

---

She, and other organ recipients, are now pushing Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government to change a law in order to help others in similar situations. 05/05/2025

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University Health Network in Toronto is aiming to attract 100 scientists, focusing on people whose research could fuel economic development. 05/02/2025

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While health care hasn't taken centre stage in the 2025 federal election, candidates recently brought it back into focus, unveiling platforms that spotlight key health issues. 05/02/2025

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04/29/2025

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Monitoring daily step count can encourage people to be more active. When it comes to assessing fitness or risk for major illnesses, though, is a new measurement that combines both average steps and heart rate better? 04/17/2025

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Our health is intertwined with the health of planet Earth, and the impacts of climate change threaten our well-being. Collectively taking small steps like eating more plant-forward meals, using bikes or public transit, and even sharing our pledges can help move the needle in a positive direction. 04/21/2025

---

Long-term research found that higher consumption of butter increases mortality risk, while higher consumption of plant-based oil lowers it. And substituting certain plant oils for butter might help people live longer. What's a butter lover to do? 04/23/2025

---

It's fairly common for a medical treatment to cause side effects — but far more rarely, a side effect provides an unexpected benefit. This might be the case for the shingles vaccine, as evidence is mounting that it might also reduce the risk of dementia. 04/29/2025

---

With the safety of hospital staff and patients a growing concern across Canada, LHSC is implementing a new weapons detection system in all of its emergency departments. 04/15/2025

---

Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) today formally adopted by consensus the world's first Pandemic Agreement. The landmark decision by the 78th World Health Assembly culminates more than three years of intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and driven by the goal of making the world safer from – and more equitable in response to – future pandemics. 05/20/2025

---

Historic agreement to be considered for adoption Tuesday in plenary of the AssemblyGeneva, Switzerland, 19 May 2025 (WHO) — World Health Organization Member States, meeting today in Committee A of the World Health Assembly, approved a resolution that calls for the adoption of an historic global compact to make the world safer from future… 05/20/2025

---

World Health Organization Member States, meeting today in Committee A of the World Health Assembly, approved a resolution that calls for the adoption of an historic global compact to make the world safer from future pandemics. The WHO Pandemic Agreement will next be considered for final adoption by the Assembly on Tuesday during the plenary session. 05/20/2025

---

In a landmark public health achievement, Papua New Guinea (PNG) has been validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem. Trachoma, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) and the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer poses a public health threat in the country. 05/19/2025

---

Geneva, Switzerland, 19 May 2025 (PAHO) — The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has called for urgent action to strengthen primary health care as a way to achieve health equity and address persistent gaps in the care of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health. He also urged improving access to… 05/19/2025

---

Washington, D.C., May 19, 2025 (PAHO) – Researchers, activists, civil society organizations, and journalism organizations from Canada, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay, as well as government agencies from Brazil, have been recognized with World Health Organization (WHO) World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2025 Awards at the 78th World… 05/19/2025

---

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized four countries – the Republic of Austria, the Kingdom of Norway, the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Singapore – for their exemplary efforts in eliminating industrially produced trans fats from their food supplies. These countries have implemented best-practice policies alongside effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to promote public health. 05/19/2025

---

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Mauritania as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the seventh country in WHO’s African Region to achieve this significant milestone. The validation certificate was received by Honorable Abdallahi Sidi Mohamed Wedih, Minister of Health and Aïcha Vall Vergès, Ambassador of Mauritania to Switzerland at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly. 05/19/2025

---

Geneva, Switzerland, May 19, 2025 (PAHO) - Within the framework of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, met with the heads of delegation from the countries of the Americas to discuss two crucial issues on the Assembly's agenda: the pandemic agreement and the WHO's… 05/19/2025

---

Washington D.C. 16 May 2025 (PAHO) – While countries of the Americas continue to make progress towards the prevention and control of hypertension, on the eve of World Hypertension Day, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) calls for more to be done at the primary health care level to tackle this principal risk factor for cardiovascular… 05/17/2025

---

Since October, Ontario has recorded more than 1,400 measles cases linked to an outbreak that began at a large gathering with guests from Mennonite communities in New Brunswick. 05/09/2025

---

That brings the province’s tally of probable and confirmed cases to 1,440 since an outbreak began in October. 05/08/2025

---

05/08/2025

---

Researchers have found that the risk of death due to Alzheimer's disease is markedly lower in taxi and ambulance drivers compared with hundreds of other occupations. And the reason could be that these drivers develop certain structural changes in their brains as they work. 05/06/2025

---

The Ford government was forced to pay back 353 claims after supply issues for palliative and home care patients which came after it awarded a new medical contract. 05/06/2025

---

She, and other organ recipients, are now pushing Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government to change a law in order to help others in similar situations. 05/05/2025

---

University Health Network in Toronto is aiming to attract 100 scientists, focusing on people whose research could fuel economic development. 05/02/2025

---

While health care hasn't taken centre stage in the 2025 federal election, candidates recently brought it back into focus, unveiling platforms that spotlight key health issues. 05/02/2025

---

04/29/2025

---

Monitoring daily step count can encourage people to be more active. When it comes to assessing fitness or risk for major illnesses, though, is a new measurement that combines both average steps and heart rate better? 04/17/2025

---

Our health is intertwined with the health of planet Earth, and the impacts of climate change threaten our well-being. Collectively taking small steps like eating more plant-forward meals, using bikes or public transit, and even sharing our pledges can help move the needle in a positive direction. 04/21/2025

---

Long-term research found that higher consumption of butter increases mortality risk, while higher consumption of plant-based oil lowers it. And substituting certain plant oils for butter might help people live longer. What's a butter lover to do? 04/23/2025

---

It's fairly common for a medical treatment to cause side effects — but far more rarely, a side effect provides an unexpected benefit. This might be the case for the shingles vaccine, as evidence is mounting that it might also reduce the risk of dementia. 04/29/2025

---

With the safety of hospital staff and patients a growing concern across Canada, LHSC is implementing a new weapons detection system in all of its emergency departments. 04/15/2025

---