PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION/WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION CENTRAL AMERICAN SUBREGIONAL MANAGERS' MEETING 12-16 February 2007 Radisson Fort George Hotel, Belize City, Belize

Belize City, February 09 2007 - The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) will be holding its annual Central American Subregional Managers' Meeting at the Radisson Fort George Hotel, Belize City, 12-16 February 2007. The meeting will bring together PAHO/WHO Representatives and Centre Directors from the countries of the Central American subregion, Mexico, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries, technical advisors serving the subregion, and senior staff from PAHO headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Opening Session will take place on Monday, 12 February, 8:30-10:00 am and after a general welcome by Dr. Beverley Barnett, the PAHO/WHO Representative in Belize, the Director of PAHO, Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, will open the meeting. The Minister of Health of Belize, the Honourable Jose Coye, has been invited to brief the PAHO/WHO managers on the health situation in Belize, and senior managers in the Ministry of Health will also attend.

The PAHO/WHO managers are expected to discuss issues relating to the Organization's technical cooperation in the Central American subregion. These include strategies to maximize the benefit of subregional technical cooperation in health at country level, and include analyzing the factors that impact international cooperation in health; integrating the countries' subregional, regional, and global health commitments to address national health development priorities; strengthening partnerships with United Nations (UN) agencies and other development partners working at country level; and identifying mechanisms to enhance the efficiency of the PAHO/WHO country offices.

Belize assumed the Pro-tempore Presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA) on 1 January 2007 and is also a member of Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The country has stated its intention to use this opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the two subregions in several areas, including health.

During her visit Dr. Roses will pay courtesy calls on the Governor General of Belize, Sir Colville Young; the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Said Musa and the Cabinet; and UN Agency representatives.

The Pan American Health Organization was established in 1902, and is the world's oldest public health organization. It serves as the regional office of the World Health Organization and works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and the quality of life of their peoples.