title: [Health initiatives in Latin America: a historical assessment from the inception of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau to the Mesoamerican Health Initiative].
abstract: Latin America has undergone gradual transformations in public health influenced by historical events locally or at a global level. These epidemiologic transitions have also occurred through the implementation of interventions by public institutions such as the Pan-American Health Organization, by philanthropic foundations, non-governmental organizations, and bilateral or multilateral international donor organizations. These public health initiatives have produced substantial improvements in the heath status of many populations in Latin America. Overall, human development and health have advanced over the past century. However, these public health benefits have not been shared equally among all areas of Latin America. The Mesoamerican Region -the area encompassing from Southern Mexico to Panama- continues to experience profound social inequities focalized to indigenous communities and groups of African-descent living in urban, periurban, or rural areas. The Mesoamerican Health Initiative is a private-public partnership that attempts to close the gap of health inequalities affecting the most vulnerable populations in this region of Latin America.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, DF México. jisantosp@gmail.com
authors.forename: José Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Santos Preciado
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franco Paredes
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People; D002489:Central America; D003906:Developing Countries; D005006:Ethnicity; D005582:Foundations; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007197:Indians, Central American; D007198:Indians, North American; D007391:International Cooperation; D008800:Mexico; D010175:Pan American Health Organization / Q000266:history; D044382:Population Groups; D011634:Public Health; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035862:Vulnerable Populations