José Luis Castro, President and CEO, Vital Strategies and Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director sign the new agreement at the Vital Strategies office in New York.
New York City, September 22, 2023 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Vital Strategies today signed a new partnership agreement to improve the use of data and evidence to address health challenges in the Americas.
“In an increasingly data-driven world, it is critical that we harness the power of data to inform health policies. The partnership between PAHO and Vital Strategies will enable us to strengthen this evidence-based approach as we advance towards health for all,” Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director said.
Through the agreement, both organizations committed to work together in several areas to enhance data use for policy action. This includes vital statistics and cancer registries; data on commercial determinants of health, such as tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods; injury prevention, including drug policy, road safety, and gender-based violence; mental health and urban health.
“Without accurate and robust health data, governments are constrained in defining priorities and policies.” José Luis Castro, President and CEO, Vital Strategies said. “As demand for data continues to grow, we are proud to renew our partnership with PAHO to support countries in implementing proven data collection methods, building robust systems for monitoring public health data, and tracking progress across numerous UN Sustainable Development Goals, including universal health coverage,” he added
The new agreement builds on a 15-year collaboration between the two organizations and will contribute to advancing the Sustainable Development Agenda in the Region of the Americas, by supporting the development of resilient health systems based on primary health care and ensuring no one is left behind.
About PAHO:
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with countries in the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of people in the region. Founded in 1902, PAHO is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the WHO Regional Office for the Americas and is the specialized health agency of the Inter-American System.
About Vital Strategies:
Vital Strategies believes every person should be protected by an equitable and effective public health system. We partner with governments, communities and organizations around the world to reimagine public health so that health is supported in all the places we live, work and play. The result is millions of people living longer, healthier lives.
To learn more, visit vitalstrategies.org, or follow us @VitalStrat.