Health Program of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Action Plan 2005–2007

Abstract

[Introduction]: Within the framework of the efforts that the countries and peoples of the Americas develop in order to achieve equity, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has implemented systematic actions with regard to indigenous health in compliance with Resolutions CD37.R5 (1993) and CD40.R6 (1997). The PAHO technical cooperation and the actions of the Member Countries are based on the principles of the Health of the Indigenous Peoples Initiative, which demand the permanent involvement of the indigenous peoples themselves and the recognition and respect of their ancestral wisdom. Based on the Health of the Indigenous Peoples Initiative experience, the “Health of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Program” was proposed as a new space to revise, expand, and consolidate the development of the health of the indigenous peoples of the Region. Since 2004 the Program is being implemented from the Health Services Organization Unit of the Technology and Health Services Delivery Area (THS/OS). The Program considers the strengths of the countries and peoples of the Americas; thus, it takes into account approaches and methodologies that combine both the institutional and community vision. The goal is to contribute to the achievement of equity in the Americas in the context of recognition and respect of cultural diversity; the purpose is to strengthen the local, national, subregional, and regional capacity to promote health improvement of the Region’s indigenous peoples in a way that integrates the framework of the intercultural approach and human development. The full involvement of all social actors is required to adhere to the Program’s multisectoral and multidisciplinary approach, which takes into consideration health as a human right and the gender and generational approach...