Health in the Americas

The Region of the Americas has made important strides in health over recent decades, including gains in life expectancy, expanded access to care, and measurable progress against some of the most persistent diseases that have afflicted our populations. Yet, as this edition of Health in the Americas makes clear, much of the disease burden borne by the people of our Region remains potentially avertable – that is, many of the diseases or health conditions that people face could be treated and managed appropriately through timely, quality health care or prevented altogether through public health actions and primary prevention, such as antitobacco policies. Indeed the data show that other countries around the world have already achieved better results for those same diseases and health conditions. The challenge before us is no longer simply one of generating evidence – what works and why it matters is increasingly understood. Instead, the challenge is strong stewardship and effective governance. This includes the capacity of countries to translate evidence into action, resources into measurable results, and commitments into quality care delivered at scale.