Three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries — Belize, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines — have successfully eliminated the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mothers to their children, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced in its 2024 annual report.
The achievement was highlighted as part of PAHO’s broader Disease Elimination Initiative, which aims to reduce and eliminate infectious diseases across the Americas. The milestone marks a significant public health victory in the region’s efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
“This represents notable progress in the fight against preventable diseases and demonstrates the impact of strong public health strategies,” said PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa in the report. “In 2024, we launched powerful initiatives not only to detect and treat disease, but to transform health systems.”
The 2024 Annual Report: Advancing Health for Regional Security provides a wide-ranging overview of PAHO’s efforts to strengthen health security across the hemisphere amid continued outbreaks and systemic healthcare challenges.
Among key findings, the report notes that: The organization served over one billion people across 35 member states; Dengue fever cases surged to 13 million in 2024 — nearly three times the previous year — resulting in more than 7,700 deaths, mostly in Brazil; Avian influenza (H5N1) saw 66 human cases in the U.S. and Canada, with over 1,300 reported animal outbreaks across the region, and the Oropouche virus spread to 12 countries, highlighting the need for strengthened surveillance.
PAHO also emphasized its efforts to reduce the region’s heavy dependence on imported vaccines and pharmaceuticals. Currently, Latin America and the Caribbean import six times more pharmaceutical products and 80 times more vaccines than they export.
To address this, the organization supported the development of regional manufacturing capacity, including mRNA vaccine production in Argentina and Brazil. A notable initiative includes a new vaccine targeting H5N1 avian influenza.
The report outlines several strategies aimed at health system reform, including the Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas, developed in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank. This alliance is working across 10 countries to expand access to primary healthcare, which PAHO estimates can address up to 80% of individuals’ health needs.
PAHO’s Strategy on Epidemic Intelligence (2024–2029) — described as the first of its kind globally — was also launched last year to enhance early warning systems for outbreaks.
In 2024, PAHO facilitated access to 224 million vaccine doses and delivered five million treatments across the region, helping to bolster immunization programs and expand emergency health capacity.
The report coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Pan American Sanitary Code, the first multilateral agreement to coordinate cross-border disease control in the Americas.
