In a significant move to reduce infectious diseases among children and adolescents in Latin America, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Latin American Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SLIPE) have signed a cooperation agreement.
Despite a 60% decrease in deaths among children under 5 years old in Latin America and the Caribbean since 2000, infectious diseases like flu, pneumonia, malaria, and TB remain a leading cause of death in this age group. The agreement aims to address this issue through technical and strategic guidance to strengthen health systems and address childhood infections.
PAHO and SLIPE will collaborate on projects in key areas such as vaccination, pediatric infectious diseases, arboviruses, perinatal infections, and neonatal sepsis. They will also work to strengthen surveillance systems, promote ongoing research, and implement awareness campaigns.
The five-year agreement aligns with other PAHO initiatives aimed at addressing infectious diseases and promoting child and adolescent health in the region. By joining forces, PAHO and SLIPE hope to reduce preventable child deaths and tackle the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in Latin America.
WHO/Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
