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News Release

U.S. Elected To P.A.H.O. Executive Committee

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today that after a one-year absence, the United States will return to the Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the world's oldest international health organization. Elected today in a secret ballot by ministers of health from all countries in the Americas, the U.S. will serve a three-year term on the Organization's nine-member governing board.

"We are proud to be returning to the Executive Committee of PAHO, and we offer our thanks to our neighbors and friends in our region for having elected us to represent them," Secretary Thompson said. "PAHO plays a crucial role in public health in the Americas and is a valuable partner for my department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. I look forward to collaborating closely with my fellow health ministers and the new director of PAHO in our term on the Executive Committee."

Secretary Thompson serves as chief delegate of the U.S. to the 26th Pan American Sanitary Conference, being held in Washington, D.C., this week.

Secretary Thompson also congratulated Dr. Mirta Roses of Argentina on her election today as the new director of the PAHO. "Dr. Roses has a long and distinguished record of service in public health and medicine in our region of the Americas, and she will be an excellent director of PAHO," Secretary Thompson said. "She has our support and our best wishes." Secretary Thompson also extended his appreciation to Dr. Jaime Sepulveda of Mexico, the runner-up in the election.

Composed of 38 members states in the Western Hemisphere, PAHO is the regional office for the World Health Organization and part of the Pan American System. The U.S. is the largest financial contributor to PAHO, supporting 60 percent of the regular budget, and provides technical assistance in cooperation with PAHO to many countries in the region. Based in Washington, D.C., PAHO is celebrating its centennial this year.

Along with the U.S., Paraguay and the Caribbean island of Dominica were also elected to the Executive Committee.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: January 16, 2003