Regional Approach to Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response
Latin American CDC
Latin America, significantly impacted by global health crises like COVID-19, needs a more coordinated response system. Despite having only 8.2% of the world’s population, the region reported 80 million COVID-19 cases and 1.7 million deaths. Fragmented national responses and a lack of regional cooperation exacerbated these challenges.
Research and analysis have highlighted the urgent need for better coordination among public health responses in the region. The AHF Global Public Health Institute for Latin America and the Caribbean has been working with academic institutions and public health experts on proposals that can strengthen the regional health architecture. These collaborations led to the publication of a commentary in the prestigious The Lancet calling for the creation of a Latin American Regional Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (LATAM CDC)
The proposed LATAM CDC aims to address these issues by enhancing regional coordination and resource sharing. This center would facilitate cooperation among countries, improve disease surveillance, and standardize public health practices. Involving diverse stakeholders from governments to civil society, the LATAM-CDC would strengthen health systems and ensure timely responses to health emergencies, ultimately safeguarding public health across the region.
Select Publications
The Lancet
Patricia J Garcia, Jorge Saavedra, et al.
June 29, 2024