The annual sessions of the Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) bring together health ministers and high-level delegates from its Member States or countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss and analyze regional policies and establish priorities for technical cooperation and collaboration in health.
The 61st Session was held from September 30th to October 4th, 2024, at PAHO/WHO Headquarters in Washington D.C., United States, and included a program whose activities could be followed live through the Organization’s website. At the opening, PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa highlighted efforts to strengthen preparedness for future health challenges in the region. In his annual report, the Director mentioned the Organization’s ongoing efforts to recover from health gains and vulnerabilities left by COVID-19.
BIREME, as a PAHO Specialized Center, was present at CD61 and was represented by its Director, João Paulo de Souza, and by Carmen Verônica Abdala, Technical Manager. BIREME presented its products and services (p/s) of quality information and scientific evidence in health at a stand that included the launch of a hotsite (link), allowing interaction with visitors from the countries of the Region and the Organization’s personnel both at Headquarters and in the countries. In addition, in accordance with the CD61 program, the election and designation of members to update and strengthen its Governance Committees, the Advisory Committee (AC) and the Scientific Committee (SC) was carried out. “BIREME’s participation in the PAHO Directing Council Meeting, in the midst of the accelerated digital transformation of the region’s health systems, was essential to strengthen its technical cooperation with member countries and expand collaboration with other PAHO units”, stated Director João Paulo Souza.
During CD61, three members were elected to the BIREME AC: Colombia, Honduras and Jamaica (2025-2027), who will replace Chile, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago (2022-2024). The members of the CA will meet annually to monitor the development of the Center’s biannual work plans, including aspects of its management, institutionality and projects, when they will provide recommendations for strengthening and innovating its technical cooperation program and operation.
The three nominated countries have a history of relevant technical cooperation with BIREME and PAHO, due to their involvement in the network of national institutions in the current development of information products and services available locally and regionally, highlighting:
| Technical Cooperation | Colombia | Honduras | Jamaica |
| Network | UNIRECS | REDIDOSAH | MEDCARIB |
| Data Base (DB) | COLNAL | BIMENA | MEDCARIB |
| National DB | COLNAL | — | MEDCARIB |
| VHL | National and Nursing | National | CARPHA Evidence Portal |
| LILACS | 128 journals | 5 journals | 1 journal |
| Other p/s | Windows of Knowledge, e-BlueInfo | e-BlueInfo | — |
| National Coordinator | FUCS | UNAH | CARPHA |
| Governance of BIREME: Advisory Committee (AC) and Scientific Committee (SC) |
AC (21-23) e SC (17-19) | SC (13-14) | AC (10-11 e 16-18) SC (17-19) |
Reference: www.bireme.org/en
Director João Paulo Souza highlights that “the Advisory Committee is essential to guide and strengthen BIREME’s actions. While thanking Chile, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago for their valuable contributions, we welcome Colombia, Honduras and Jamaica, expressing our expectation of fruitful cooperation with the countries that are now joining this important Committee.”
BIREME is grateful and acknowledges the importance of the support received from the countries whose mandates are ending, Chile, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago (2022-2024), for having made significant contributions to the sustainability of BIREME, and that will continue to contribute and participate in this regional effort, through the development of products and services to promote access by the countries of the Region to quality information and scientific and technical evidence in health.