Andean Ministers approve ORAS strategic plan – CONHU for the next five years
Peru
22 febrero 2018

NUTRITION

Non communicable diseases. Ministers and Health officials from the six countries that compose the Andean Health Organization – Hipólito Unanue Agreement (ORAS – CONHU), Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, approved the Strategic Plan 2018-2022 and the Annual Operating Plan 2018. The ORAS – CONHU is an organization belonging to the Andean Integration System, formed in 1971 by Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, which aims to strengthen the Andean and South American integration in the health sector.

The body’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan establishes regional guidelines on health and includes Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among health priorities, especially overweight and healthy eating. On this occasion, the ministers prioritized attention to the endemic health problems of the region, which include the fight against anemia, chronic malnutrition, maternal and neonatal mortality, and non-communicable diseases, among others. In this sense, the lines of work proposed include work around diabetes and overweight, as well as the promotion of healthy eating, an issue that is on the regulatory agenda of most of the countries in the region.

The agreement’s approval was given within the framework of the organization’s XXXVI Extraordinary Meeting, which took place in Lima, Peru, on February 15th. The Minister of Health, Dr. Abel Salinas, attended for Peru; for Venezuela, the Vice Minister of Integral Health, Dr. Maiqui Flores; for Ecuador, the Vice Minister of Public Health, Dr. Carlos Duran; for Colombia, Ambassador Mónica Lanzetta; for Bolivia, Dr. Teresa Rosso, Head of the Office of International Relations; and on the part of Chile, Dr. José Luis Durán, an official of the Office of International Relations, who in general committed their ministries to support the good execution of the Plan.

In this context, the Peruvian minister highlighted this coordination body’s trajectory and the countries’ experience working under an integrating spirit to combat diseases and promote health over almost 50 years.

Next steps

The next ordinary meeting of Ministers of Health will be held in Lima, Peru. However, a date has not yet been established, since it must be agreed between the health ministers of Peru and Venezuela.

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