PAHO Report on the WHO Regional Technical Consultation on a Global Strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol (São Paulo, 6-8 May 2009)

Abstract

[Introduction]. OPENING SESSION - Dr Pedro Gabriel Godinho Delgado welcomed participants on behalf of the Ministry of Health of Brazil, Mr. José Gomes Temporão, and expressed his satisfaction in having this timely meeting organized in Brazil. He indicated that alcohol misuse represents a major public health problem, affecting different social and economic areas in Brazil. This state of affairs calls for urgent action. Indicating some recent positive developments in his country, he stressed that the scope of this meeting, as indicated in its title, was to hold a technical discussion about the public health implications of alcohol consumption. He then declared the meeting open. The address by Dr Mirta Roses, Director of PAHO (delivered by Dr Maristela Monteiro, Annex 1), highlighted the health impact of alcohol particularly in the Region of the Americas. She also stressed that the nature of the meeting is a technical consultation, without political connotations. These will be taken into account later, by the competent bodies of both PAHO and WHO...