The IV Session of BIREME’s Scientific Committee was held on December 3rd, 2018. During the session, the current situation of the development of the Center and its products and services was presented, in the context of the Biannual Work Plan 2018-2019 and the PAHO/WHO Strategic Planning. The meeting was attended by the Director of the Organization, Dr. Carissa Etienne
The e-BlueInfo App, launched by BIREME during CRICS10, is an Information Platform for Health Practice which places information in the palm of the hand of health professionals. Its main objective is to decrease inequity in access and use of scientific information and evidence oriented to health care services.
BIREME has recently updated the interface of the Regional Portal of the Virtual Health Library (VHL) with new information architecture that highlights the products and services developed by the Center, with the objective of increasing and facilitating even more the access and use of the VHL by all users and members of the VHL Network in each country.
Bringing an end to the stigma, discrimination and prejudice against people suffering from leprosy is the main theme of the World Day to fight this disease, celebrated on January 28th. BIREME, in its role of democratizing information, knowledge and scientific evidence, joins this movement through different actions, among which is the creation of a knowledge showcase in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) containing relevant scientific and technical literature on the topic.
CRICS10, organized by PAHO/WHO through the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME), was carried out in São Paulo, Brazil, from December 4 to 6, 2018. Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of Organization, and representatives of the National Organizing Committee were present during its inauguration. Having as main topic “Advancing towards the 2030 Agenda: contributions of evidence and knowledge”, the Congress brought together over 550 participants from 30 countries to participate in discussion forums on seven thematic axes, master conferences, satellite events, poster sessions, launching of new products and services and intense interaction among participants.
The 7th Regional Coordination Meeting of the VHL was held on December 4, preceding the 10th Regional Congress on Health Sciences Information (CRICS10), in São Paulo, Brazil. The main objective of the meeting was to strengthen national and regional capacities on health sciences information, through technical cooperation and the broadening of collaborative networks. The Meeting brought together every country that make up the VHL Network. During the closing ceremony, a testimony from the PAHO/WHO Director was delivered and the Declaration of São Paulo was read.
The Master Conferences of CRICS10, presented by Cristina Luna, from the Ministry of Health of Ecuador, Amanda Wilson, from the NLM of the United States, and Henrique Villa da Costa Ferreira, from the Government Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil, delivered relevant information and innovative ideas for attaining the Objectives of the 2030 Agenda.
The scientific program of CRICS10 was developed upon seven transversal thematic axes that bring out evidence, initiatives and experiences that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the 2030 Agenda and, especially, the Sustainable Development Agenda for the Americas (ASSA 2030). A round table was organized for each of the thematic axis, with the participation of three to four lecturers, a coordinator and a rapporteur. The following article is a summary of the topics discussed in each round table, as well as their conclusions.
The CRICS10 poster sessions constituted important spaces for exchanging experiences and knowledge on information science, scientific communication, and information methodologies and technologies and their applications for the development of research, education and health systems. In all, 200 abstracts from 12 countries were submitted, among which the members of the Scientific Committee selected 150 works of general interest.
CRICS10 included, besides its scientific program and the 7th Regional Coordination Meeting of the Virtual Health Library (VHL7), six satellite events, which were held on December 4 and 7, 2018. These events brought together health professionals, researchers, librarians, information sciences professionals, managers and members of the VHL Brazil and VHL Americas Networks, scientific editors, developers, Knowledge Management focal points in from PAHO/WHO Offices and Centers, representatives from nodes of the PAHO/WHO Virtual Campus of Public Health, and other interested individuals. The recommendations produced in the meetings will be reported in this article.