Addressing the large and growing burden of non-communicable diseases in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region requires better prevention and screening but also improving diagnosis, treatment, and control of the conditions once they have developed. This needs concerted action by health systems, healthcare providers and patients, as well as other stakeholders – such as … [Read more...] about Beyond Diagnosis: Improving Treatment and Control of Chronic Conditions
Health services
Belize Further Paves the Way to Malaria Elimination in Mesoamerica with IDB Support
The Country is Certified Malaria-Free by the World Health Organization. Malaria has plagued populations all over the world for almost five thousand years, claiming millions of lives. It was endemic on all continents in the 1950’s. Since then, it has been eradicated in Europe and Northern America. Now, Mesoamerica is also heading towards elimination. Belize has just achieved … [Read more...] about Belize Further Paves the Way to Malaria Elimination in Mesoamerica with IDB Support
How can we protect the poorest and most vulnerable households against climate change?
Poor and vulnerable households are facing new and worsening climate risks that require urgent attention from social protection systems in Latin America and the Caribbean. A recent study conducted by the IDB introduces an innovative conceptual framework for analyzing the relationship between climate change and poverty and proposes a series of policy options to strengthen … [Read more...] about How can we protect the poorest and most vulnerable households against climate change?
Preventing Unnecessary Deaths: Tackling Low Quality of Care
“In LAC, 70% of excess deaths that could have been avoided by adequate healthcare are due to low quality of care while 30% are due to lack of access to care.” This striking statistic is often used to highlight the importance of quality for health outcomes, including in the IDB’s Health Sector Framework. But what is the basis for this estimate, and what does it mean? What … [Read more...] about Preventing Unnecessary Deaths: Tackling Low Quality of Care
Task Shifting and Technology are Game Changers in Facing Mental Health Challenges
Mental health disorders are common and disabling throughout the world. Rich and poor countries experience the devastating consequences of these disorders, representing approximately 20% of the global burden of diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean, with mental health disorders representing only 0.4% of all public healthcare funding globally. Besides, there are massive … [Read more...] about Task Shifting and Technology are Game Changers in Facing Mental Health Challenges