The BIREME Bulletin reaches its 100th monthly edition, celebrating almost a decade as the main institutional communication channel of the PAHO/WHO Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information. Since the launch of its first edition in October 2016, the Bulletin has documented, highlighted, and strengthened management, technical cooperation, digital innovation, and knowledge dissemination activities in public health in the Region of the Americas and beyond.
Published in three languages (Portuguese, Spanish, and English), the Bulletin regularly reaches more than 2,500 users, including institutional partners, associated organizations, libraries, documentation centers, government agencies, universities, researchers, students, and other interested parties. Its objective is clear: to disseminate the methodologies and technologies developed and used by BIREME, promoting access, quality, use, and impact of health information.
Silvia de Valentin, the Center’s Administrative Manager shares her view on the role of internal and external communication for the success of projects and collaborative work. “The Bulletin is an important communication vehicle for sharing information and knowledge at the individual, collective, institutional, and inter-institutional levels, in support of everyone’s commitment to implementing BIREME’s mission.”
For Director João Paulo Souza, the 100th edition of the BIREME Bulletin is a milestone for institutional recognition, documenting the history and identity of the Center: “More than just a communication channel, the BIREME Bulletin is a bridge between science, cooperation, and impact. Reaching our 100th edition reinforces our commitment to transforming information into action for public health”.
Strategic communication: integration and relevance beyond the bulletin
The celebration of the 100th edition of the Bulletin represents just one of the many fronts of BIREME’s institutional communication ecosystem. As illustrated by the “Integrated Communication Map” (figure below) (Jul/2025), strategic action unfolds across various internal and external channels, such as:
- Institutional portals (bireme.org, paho.org/bireme, governance committees, intranet)
- Technical cooperation portals (VHL Regional Portal, DeCS Portal, LILACS Portal)
- Social networks (Facebook, Twitter/X, Viva Engage, VHL and LILACS Network channels)
- Webinars and events of the VHL Network (Reference Network, LILACS Indexing, Good Editorial Practices)
- PAHO-TV playlist on YouTube
- “Fique Por Dentro” (FpD): weekly internal newsletter with over 240 editions, promoting transparency, team alignment, and appreciation of results.
- Press relations, clippings, partnerships, and institutional participation in scientific events
- Private messaging group via app
This integrated model maximizes the reach of initiatives and expands the capillarity of information, whether for specialized audiences, managers, students, health professionals, or society in general. “At critical moments, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the agility and reliability of these channels were decisive in combating infodemic and expanding access to qualified content in a timely manner,” highlights Silvia de Valentin.
The historical evolution and culture of collaboration
Communication is at the heart of BIREME’s trajectory: from the creation of the VHL Newsletter, published between 2005 and 2011, to the implementation of the BIREME Bulletin; from active participation in institutional events to the articulation of cooperative networks and even the organization and realization of its own events, such as the series of Regional Congresses on Health Sciences Information (CRICS). Currently, this culture is strengthened by the adoption of the most advanced information and communication technologies, agile project management, and innovative communication practices, stimulating regional integration and supporting and giving visibility to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the PAHO/WHO Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018-2030 (ASSA 2030).
Finally, participation in internal and external focal point networks and constant alignment with PAHO/WHO communication strategies ensure that BIREME’s actions and positioning are relevant and serve as a reference for best practices in scientific and technical health information management.
Future prospects
The 100th edition of the BIREME Bulletin symbolizes the consolidation of an organizational culture based on transparent, innovative, and strategic institutional communication. The Center continues to evolve in pursuit of integration with new digital platforms and expansion of its communication output, with the aim of further strengthening coordination with its networks of partners and users, while maintaining its commitment to transforming information into action for public health.
To learn more and access all editions of the BIREME Bulletin, visit http://boletin.bireme.org/pt/en