Guyana assumed the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Special Commission on Health in the Amazon (CESAM) on Tuesday, succeeding Ecuador and beginning a new period of work to strengthen regional cooperation on health challenges shared by Amazonian countries.

The handover took place during the eighth extraordinary meeting of CESAM, held virtually with representatives of Member Countries of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO). Participants included Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, Ecuador's Undersecretary for Health Surveillance, Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Public Health María José Mena, other Ecuadorian authorities and ACTO Permanent Secretariat Administrative Director Edith Paredes.

The meeting reviewed Ecuador's tenure and the milestones achieved during its Pro Tempore Presidency, including progress in the reactivation and consolidation of CESAM, its work plan, and the establishment of three permanent subcommissions: Digital Health, Environment and Gender Equity; Priority and Emerging Diseases; and Intercultural Health and Traditional Medicine.

Among the advances Ecuador presented were discussions on the Strategic Plan for Comprehensive Health in the Amazon, efforts toward eliminating communicable diseases such as malaria in the Amazon, and a proposal to incorporate a health module into the Amazon Regional Observatory (ARO) to strengthen regional information for health-related decision-making.

ACTO Administrative Director Edith Paredes acknowledged Ecuador's work and stressed the importance of continuity in the regional health agenda. She said many of the challenges facing the Amazon require joint responses, given the vast distances, difficulties accessing health services, the effects of climate change, emerging and re-emerging diseases, and the specific needs of Indigenous Peoples and local and traditional communities. She added that Guyana is taking over a fully operational CESAM with an established foundation, and that the challenge ahead will be maintaining momentum, strengthening the subcommissions and moving toward concrete results for the populations of the Amazon.

 

Regional Health Agenda

 

Dr Anthony thanked Ecuador for its work and said Amazonian countries share challenges that require cooperation, the exchange of experiences and the effective use of existing regional capacities.

One of Guyana's first priorities will be to operationalise CESAM's three subcommissions, ensuring Member Countries' participation so they can advance their respective work agendas.

Dr Anthony also pointed to Suriname's experience eliminating malaria as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among Amazonian countries. Guyana will continue CESAM's work plan and intends to present new initiatives for Member Countries' consideration during its Pro Tempore Presidency.

 

Health Decision-Making

 

The meeting also addressed development of the ARO's health module. A roadmap was presented under which CESAM will define the criteria and conditions for exchanging and sharing information, while Member Countries designate technical focal points to advance the process.

As a next step, Guyana proposed holding an in-person CESAM meeting on the sidelines of the Pan American Health Organisation's Directing Council at the end of September, to advance discussions on the work plan and the Commission's next actions. (Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization)

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony