Today, October 3rd, The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) signed a Framework Agreement, during the Week of High-Level Health Authorities of the Americas in Washington.
This agreement, signed by ACTO’s Acting Secretary General, Vanessa Grazziotin, and PAHO’s Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr., establishes a new framework for collaboration between the two organizations, renewing their commitment to strengthening strategic public health actions in the Amazon region.
The Framework Agreement coincides with the 61st Directing Council of PAHO, where key health policies were discussed. The topics include the promotion of epidemiological intelligence, improvement of early warning systems, and the transformation of health systems, with a focus on increasing resilience. These areas are also priorities for ACTO, particularly in the Amazon region, where the health of Indigenous peoples and the response to health emergencies in border areas are critical.
Vanessa Grazziotin, ACTO’s Acting Secretary General, highlighted: “This Memorandum underscores our commitment to the health and well-being of Amazonian populations. The collaboration with PAHO will allow us to implement innovative solutions that will benefit not only the Amazon countries but also the entire American region. We are at a crucial moment to consolidate public policies that ensure equitable access to health.”
The signed Framework Agreement establishes key areas of cooperation, including the health of Indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation, epidemiological surveillance in border areas, environmental health, and the use of new health technologies such as telemedicine. Additionally, the agreement reinforces the commitment to sustainable development, health equity, and the training of health workers in the Amazon region, as outlined in the document signed by both parties.
With this new push, ACTO and PAHO will work together on projects to improve the living conditions of Amazonian communities and strengthen regional health systems, aligned with sustainable development goals and international climate change agreements.