The Region needs resilient and sustainable health systems to ensure universal health. Policies are needed to promote health and well-being, reduce inequities, and achieve SDG 3 in an unfragmented way.

PAHO has provided direct emergency response for COVID-19 to ministries of health and other national authorities and has activated different response mechanisms

COVID-19 broke out in the midst of high social inequality and generated negative synergies. A higher lethality among people residing in areas with a higher concentration of poverty.

The Americas have been impacted by contraction of economic growth, inflation, and unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity rates. The most important factors are high commodity prices and disruptions in international supply chains.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated public health challenges. It is necessary to adopt an approach based on the determinants of health and promoting health equity.

Health emergencies and disasters are direct contributors to PAPM. This response should rely on public health and healthcare systems, and on a broader national approach.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) is dedicated to ensuring health lives and promoting well-being for all. How well is the Americas Region moving towards this goal?

Countries in the Americas Region have improvements in potentially avoidable premature deaths. But social inequalities in health are reflected across the Region.

This final chapter brings the tools and strategies that have been approved to help governments in the Region save more lives.

Premature deaths can often be avoided either through early public health interventions. More than 2.5 million people in the Americas died prematurely in 2019.

Countries in the Americas have had improvements in potentially preventable premature death. Although guaranteed access to health services and universal health coverage play a fundamental role.

Non-communicable and chronic diseases (NCDs) and external causes have replaced communicable (infectious) diseases as the main causes of death.