PAHO UNITE Join Forces To Strengthen Health Legislation Across The Americas

(MENAFN- Caribbean News Global) NEW YORK, USA, (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and UNITE – Parliamentarians Network for Global Health signed a Framework Agreement today to promote stronger legislative action on health in the region of the Americas.

The agreement, signed on the margins of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, establishes a strategic partnership aimed at supporting lawmakers in shaping public health policy through informed debate, evidence-based decision-making, and greater alignment with international health standards and priorities.

“Parliamentarians play a critical role in shaping health systems. Their leadership is essential to advancing the right to health and building resilience in the face of today's challenges,” said PAHO director Dr Jarbas Barbosa.“This partnership with UNITE will help equip legislators with the tools, data, and technical support they need to champion evidence-based policies and drive sustainable improvements in public health.”

UNITE is a global, non-partisan network of current and former parliamentarians committed to promoting effective, sustainable health policies in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). With this partnership, UNITE and PAHO will work together to build technical capacity among parliamentarians, facilitate policy dialogue on health priorities, and advance legal and regulatory reforms across the region.

“The signing of this agreement reaffirms policymakers' commitment to champion global health policies grounded in reliable data and aligned with the normative guidance of agencies such as PAHO,” said Dr Ricardo Baptista Leite, Founder and president of UNITE.“Legislators bear a crucial role in advancing stronger legislation, securing sustainable budgets, and ensuring governments fulfill their commitments, leveraging PAHO's allyship to strengthen health policies in the Americas.”

Through the Framework Agreement, both organisations commit to organising joint initiatives such as technical webinars, workshops, and high-level events focused on strengthening legislative responses to public health challenges. Topics may include health financing, universal health coverage, pandemic preparedness, noncommunicable diseases, and the social and environmental determinants of health.

PAHO will provide technical assistance and share guidance and data to support lawmakers in shaping policy aligned with regional and global health goals. UNITE will engage its extensive network of parliamentarians to promote knowledge sharing, identify legislative gaps, and foster political will around health reforms.

This collaboration builds on UNITE's existing Memorandum of Understanding with the World Health Organization (WHO), and reflects the shared commitment of both organizations to inclusive, multisectoral approaches to health governance.

The post PAHO – UNITE join forces to strengthen health legislation across the Americas appeared first on Caribbean News Global .

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