Welcoming Remarks by the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau/Regional Director of the World Health Organization for the Americas

Abstract

"For the past 110 years, this Organization has been making fundamental contributions to progress in public health and to improve the health of our hemisphere’s population. All this has come about thanks to the commitment of our Member States to the principles of Pan-Americanism—as well as to their permanent demonstration, not only of solidarity, but also of a spirit of cooperation and confidence. This has taken place with the backing received from our partners, who relied on the efforts and quality of extraordinary national and international teams united in their mission to achieve consensually established goals...My present position, one granted me ten years ago and subsequently renewed, has been the greatest honor that I could have ever received in a lifetime devoted to serving public health. I can say, with satisfaction, that I have worked intensely, tirelessly, and passionately—and that I will continue to do so, in response to your confidence and mandates, until the last moment of my term. I confess that I feel proud of the results that we have obtained together to serve the peoples of the Americas. Looking back on the path we have followed, with its achievements and learning experiences, and looking forward to the future already growing from the seeds we have sown, I am convinced that this Organization will continue to help produce extraordinary results in public health for many decades to come—thanks to the commitment of its Member States, the quality of its working teams, and the very strength of the principles of Pan-Americanism and solidarity, which both inspire and move us. For your commitment, for your backing, for the friendship you have given me, and for your continuous contributions to the cause of public health in the Americas, please receive my heartfelt thanks."