Month: March 2012

Washington, 23 mar ( EFE).- tuberculosis remains the second cause of death by infectious disease in the Americas (after HIV/AIDS), despite the important progress made in their control, the Pan-American organization of health ( PAHO) reported today. The organization points out that in the Americas, still some 270,000 people, of whom 44,000 are children, become infected with tuberculosis every year and nearly 23,000 die from this disease. , However, stresses that these figures reflect “significant progress” in reducing cases in the past twenty years, as since 1990 have been reduced by 60 percent and deaths have been reduced by two-thirds. On the occasion of World TB Day, which is celebrated on 24 March, the Director of PAHO, the regional Office of the World Health Organization (who), Mirta Roses, hoped that if the countries continue and intensify their efforts can be achieved eradicate the disease on the continent in 2050. “It is my aspiration that a not-too-distant day, can all see an America free of tuberculosis”. “That goal only may be accomplished with the commitment of all”, said in his annual message on the anniversary that the German physician Robert Koch announced in 1882 which had discovered the Bacillus causing tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which spreads through the air and usually attack the lungs. Symptoms include cough more than two to...

Washington, 23 mar ( EFE).-the Pan American Health Organization ( PAHO) today expressed its concern on the situation of HIV-positive in the Caribbean and asked to see a recommendation to ensure the rights of people with HIV in America. PAHO, regional agency of the World Organization of health, said at a hearing before the Inter-American Commission on human rights (IACHR) that there are legal, social and political elements that hinder access to the health system and the basic rights of the HIV-positive in this region. Why he urged the independent of the Organization of American States (OAS), organization responsible for ensuring human rights in the region, to develop a recommendation inter-American so that the States of the continent to ensure the rights of people with HIV. The health institution advocated modifying punitive laws on this group, properly apply mechanisms of constitutional protection and even reforming the Magnas letters of some of the countries clauses. PAHO stressed difficulties in access to condoms, treatment of retroviral and health care in the Caribbean region, where it is estimated that there are about 50 daily HIV infections, explained the doctor of PAHO Edward Greene. His colleague Javier Vázquez, meanwhile stressed that “there is a great lack of knowledge among the judges, parliamentarians and rulers” region on the problems of HIV and on the solutions to be taken. Concerns the Caribbean, health experts stressed...