Resumo em Inglês:

Mindful of the increasing predominance of noncommunicable diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean, PAHO's activities in this area are geared toward strengthening the ability of the Organization to support prevention and control initiatives in the Member States. This effort is led by the Program on Noncommunicable Diseases (HCN), which advises and assists the countries in the adoption of policies, strategies, and feasible and cost-effective programs for the prevention and control of chronic diseases of public health importance. Currently, the program is promoting integrated approaches to the prevention of major noncommunicable diseases (eg., the CARMEN project), that may include elements of the following priority areas:diseases of the circulatory system, diabetes, cancer of the uterine cervix, and injury prevention. In addition, pain management and palliative care are being carefully assessed as potential new areas for regional attention. This report presents updated figures for Latin America and the Caribbean, revealing the general morbidity burden attributable to these diseases, and also describes in detail the activities of HCN.