Central American Regional Health Care Training Center Offers First Course in Panamá

Photo of 50 students from Costa Rica, Panamá, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua attending the first course at the Central American Regional Health-Care Training Center. In the middle of the front row is the Director of the Office of the Americas in the HHS Office of Global Health Affairs, Rosaly Correa-de-Araujo, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D. To her left is the Director of Academic Affairs within the Ministry of Health of Panamá, Enrique Mendoza, M.D., who designed the curriculum on highly pathogenic avian influenza for this training; to her right is Maria Alcaide, M.D., of the University of Miami, who addressed the students on basic virology as related to influenza.

April 18, 2007 - Following the recent trip by Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Michael O. Leavitt to Central America to enter into Letters of Intent with Central American countries to work together toward the establishment of a Regional Health-Care Training Center, the first course for Central American health care professionals under the auspices of the Center is taking place from April 16-30, 2007, at the City of Knowledge (Ciudad del Saber) in Panamá City.

The training focuses on the clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory aspects of highly pathogenic avian influenza, and related preparedness and response to a potential influenza pandemic. The establishment of the Regional Health Care Training Center in Panamá to serve health professionals in Central America is part of the health component of President Bush's recently announced Initiative to Advance the Cause of Social Justice in the Western Hemisphere.

This first training course brings together 50 health care professionals of diverse backgrounds from each of the six country partners: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panamá. These individuals will return to their communities to apply the skills, knowledge, and experience acquired during the two-week course.

Last revised: August 23, 2007