Health in Development (1983-1992)
This rapid increase of the population and the massive growth of the cities created serious problems of infrastructure shortages, pollution, unemployment, violence, insecurity, and marginally bringing with them greater demands for health services. In general health conditions reflected poverty-related problems, including communicable diseases and malnutrition. The work of multiplicity of health care delivery institutions was generally not well coordinated, trained personnel were short in supply and misused, and health care coverage was insufficient, 30% to 40% of the population had no access to basic health services.
In light of the challenges posed by the changing political, economic, and social conditions in the Region over this 10-year period, the Organization set out to reorient the thrust of its work. It adopted a series of policies aimed at improving people’s health, transforming health service infrastructures, and furthering the relationship between health and development.
1983 | Regional meeting of epidemiologists, health administrators and planners |
1984 | Plan for Priority Health Needs |
1985 | Plan of action to halt the transmission of the wild poliomyelitis virus in the Americas |
1990 | Number of new
cases of malaria exceeded 1 million
Increasing incidence of tuberculosis
|
1991 | Regions last case of poliomyelitis |
1992 | 58% of global AIDS cases were from the Americas |