Strategic public health communication for behavioral changes, and a guide to improve mental health and suicide prevention in the Americas region, are other topics of the meeting prior to PAHO’s 60th Directing Council next September.

The directors meeting from yesterday until Friday considered it vital to resume the collective work to face major health contingencies.

They agreed that the risk of diseases, vaccine-preventable, is higher than ever and it is urgent to increase surveillance and immunization coverage.

They also called for improving maternal, neonatal and child health indicators and addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, including mental health conditions.

The working sessions will also address climate-related threats that pose additional risks, while reporting on the donation strategy and equitable access to organs, tissues and cell transplantation and universal health coverage.

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