 |
Health in Latin America and the Caribbean
 Unequal
access to quality health services presents a major obstacle
to achieving overall health improvements, as well as economic
and social development, in LAC. This is reflected across health
indicators, but especially in maternal and child health indicators,
which have been slow to improve among poor, rural, or otherwise
marginalized groups. Similarly, while trends in fertility
and contraceptive prevalence rates for the region overall
are positive, large pockets of unmet need exist for family
planning and reproductive health services, and ensuring uninterrupted
contraceptive supplies and access to services for the neediest
remains a challenge.
HIV/AIDS is also a significant and growing problem that not
only threatens individual lives, but also jeopardizes prosperity
and social stability at the country and sub regional levels.
For instance, adult HIV prevalence in the Caribbean is surpassed
only by sub-Saharan Africa and AIDS has become the leading
cause of death in the Caribbean for both men and women aged
15-24.
Strategy
USAID’s health programs aim to:
- Build health systems capacity
- Improve child
survival, health, and nutrition
- Improve maternal health
and nutrition
- Reduce unintended pregnancy and improve
healthy reproductive behavior
- Reduce transmission and
impact of HIV/AIDS
- Prevent and control infectious diseases
of major importance
- Reduce non-communicable diseases
and injuries
- Address health requirements of internally
displaced persons
The links below are to health information on USAID LAC Missions
with web sites:
Back to Top ^
|
