PAHO Today
(PAHO/ WHO in Guyana . PAHO's Early Years . PAHO Today . Successes)

 

PAHO serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the specialized agency for health of the Inter-American system.

Our Purposes

The fundamental purposes of the Pan American Health Organization are to promote and coordinate efforts of the countries of the Western Hemisphere to combat disease, lengthen life and promote the physical and mental health of the people. 

To achieve these objectives, PAHO collaborates with Ministries of Health, other governmental and international agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, social security agencies, community groups and many others to strengthen national and local health systems and improve the health of the peoples of the Americas.

Guiding principles

The organization has two guiding principles:

• Pan Americanism – countries of the Americas working together whilst respecting the right of each to be autonomous
• Equity – fairness in access to health

Membership

PAHO’s Member States include all 35 countries in the Americas. Puerto Rico is an Associate Member. France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are Participating States and Portugal and Spain are Observer States.

The Organization of PAHO

PAHO is composed of four major bodies. The first three are collectively referred to as the Governing Bodies:

• The Pan American Sanitary Conference
• The Directing Council
• The Executive Committee
• The fourth, the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, is designated as the Secretariat.

The Pan American Sanitary Conference, the supreme governing authority of PAHO:

• Comprises delegates of all Member States.
• Meets every four years to determine general PAHO policies.
• Serves as a forum on public health matters, and elects the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau.

The Directing Council:

• Comprises delegates of all Member States.
• Meets once a year and acts on behalf of the Sanitary Conference in years when the body does not meet.
• Has jurisdiction over all matters except the election of the Director.

The Executive Committee:

• Comprises delegates of nine member States who are elected by the Conference or Council for overlapping periods of two years.
• Meets twice yearly to consider technical and administrative matters, including the program budget
• Submits recommendations to the Sanitary Conference and Directing Council.
•  Creates subcommittees as needed

Guyana is a current member of the Executive Committee.