Lethal mix of flu and crisis in Latin America

US: American Health Ministers expressed their concern over the possibility of the A(H1N1) flu and economic crisis combined may cause disastrous effects in the area.

During the inauguration of the meeting of the Executive Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) the officials expressed their concern over the damages that could cause a combination of such evils for the low income population. Brazilian minister, Jose Gomes Temporal, blamed the financial crisis for difficulties in complying with the Millennium Development Objectives, particularly referring to healthcare.

Gomes, who handed over his post in PAHO to Paraguayan minister, Esperanza Martinez, called to work with greater strength in a strategy to boost capacities of prevention and treatment of diseases.

For her part, the director of the organization, Mirta Roses Periago, noted that this year the region is demonstrating a fall in per capita incomes added to the reduction of remittances and difficulties in investments in health.

The lack of cash influences persons to delay in applying for physical care, burdens preventive attention as well as the purchase of medicines and public services are overloaded, Periago explained. The meeting to conclude this Friday has a broad program of discussions that include analyses about nutrition and development of hospital conditions, health in adolescents and gender equality and organ transplants.

Washington, Prensa Latina