In 2025, PAHO strengthened health security across the Americas through extensive epidemiological intelligence, analyzing over 1.8 million signals and detecting 128 new public health events. Early alerts helped countries respond to threats such as avian influenza A(H5N1), yellow fever, pertussis, dengue, chikungunya, oropouche, influenza, and other respiratory viruses. In Colombia, a PAHO-led training in epizootic surveillance enabled the detection of a yellow fever outbreak in primates, preventing its spread to urban areas. Across the region, countries enhanced vector, laboratory, and community surveillance, reinforcing preparedness for health emergencies.
Progress continued toward disease elimination, with Brazil eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Suriname certified malaria-free. Barbados, The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands requested verification for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, while Chile sought verification for leprosy elimination. Foot-and-mouth disease eradication advanced, with Bolivia and Brazil certified free of the disease without vaccination. The Trachoma Elimination Initiative strengthened efforts in nine countries, and PAHO launched new tools and alliances to accelerate the elimination of syphilis and HIV.
Amid measles setbacks, including the loss of the Region of the Americas’ measles elimination certification due to an outbreak in Canada, countries intensified catch-up campaigns and surveillance, maintaining 31 years free of polio. Routine immunization coverage for measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B improved, though over 1.4 million children remained unvaccinated. The region leads globally in HPV vaccination, achieving 76% coverage among girls under 15, with Cuba introducing HPV vaccination in 2025. PAHO emphasized sustaining efforts to reach the global target of 90% coverage to advance cervical cancer elimination.
PAHO responded effectively to emergencies, including Hurricane Melissa, by deploying technical teams, 16 Emergency Medical Teams, and over 23 tons of supplies to Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba. In Haiti, cholera surveillance and response were strengthened, addressing 372 suspected cases and 17 deaths. An Emergency Operations Center was inaugurated in Barbados to coordinate preparedness and response across the Caribbean.
Health self-reliance advanced as Argentina and Brazil expanded mRNA vaccine production, and PAHO’s Revolving Funds delivered over 200 million doses, as well as diagnostics, treatments, and telehealth kits. Milestones included the production of the PCV20 pneumococcal vaccine in Argentina and availability of the 9-valent HPV vaccine in 2025. PAHO also launched its High-Cost Medicines Policy to improve access to therapies for rare and chronic diseases, consolidating a regional production hub for Latin America and the Caribbean.
PAHO addressed mental health and suicide prevention, launching a regional initiative in response to a 17% increase in suicide rates. The initiative aims to strengthen national plans, expand community-based mental health services, reduce stigma, and train health teams in early detection. The organization also participated in the first Inter-American Mental Health Week with the OAS and introduced an online course to improve care for children and adolescents.
Noncommunicable disease management was strengthened through PAHO’s learning pathway, which reached 360,000 trainees, including over 34,000 certified. HEARTS for hypertension and cardiovascular risk management was implemented in more than 10,000 primary health care facilities, with the new HEARTS Quality Framework providing a scalable model to improve outcomes. Efforts to address diabetes, overweight, and obesity intensified, targeting the 67.5% of adults and 37.6% of children and adolescents affected in the region.
Digital transformation accelerated health access and surveillance. Through the Pan-American Highway for Digital Health, 20 countries integrated AI, telehealth, and interoperable systems to strengthen service delivery. Bolivia received 20 telehealth kits and five maternal-fetal monitors to expand teleconsultations and remote monitoring in hard-to-reach areas. The ultra-portable telehealth kits, available at one-fifth the cost of separate equipment, improved continuity of care and timely diagnostics.
Primary health care (PHC) was reinforced through a five-point plan by the World Bank–PAHO Lancet Regional Health Commission, emphasizing resilient, people-centered care. The Alliance for Primary Health Care welcomed Chile, El Salvador, Panama, and Paraguay, which established consultative platforms to coordinate investments and strengthen integrated services. El Salvador launched a US$120 million project to expand PHC access, the first under the Alliance.
International partnerships expanded PAHO’s impact, with countries such as Canada, the EU, France, Korea, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK, alongside financial institutions and development funds, collaborating on immunization, health system resilience, vaccine production, emergency response, and pandemic preparedness. Strategic agreements improved access to health services, regulatory systems, organ donation, and emergency response coordination across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Looking ahead to 2026, PAHO reaffirmed its commitment to leaving no one behind and strengthening health as a foundation for development, security, economic stability, and social resilience. The new Strategic Plan 2026–2031 sets clear objectives to address noncommunicable diseases, mental health, health security, system fragmentation, and communicable disease elimination, with measurable targets including reduced maternal mortality, lower suicide rates, and elimination of diseases like leprosy and Chagas disease, consolidating health gains for all people in the Americas.
