Public Health in the Americas : Conceptual Renewal Performance Assessment and Bases for Action

This book stresses the need to rediscover public health and give it its due as one of the most significant legacies in the history of mankind. Backed up with the works produced by the countries of the Region of the Americas on the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF), and especially with the publication of these works, an attempt has been made to make health, and public health in particular, one of most important assets and spheres of citizen action in the new millennium. This book also summarizes the principal conceptual, methodological, and empirical developments stemming from the institutional efforts of PAHO and WHO, which have entailed the broad, committed participation of the member countries. Finally, it provides an overview of the status of the EPHF in 41 countries and territories of the Region, based on performance measurement exercises.