Reafirmando compromissos por uma agenda ampla e solidária pela Saúde dos povos

Abstract

The theme of the 8th Brazilian Congress on Collective Health and the 11th World Congress on Public Health (World Federation of Public Health Associations-WFPHA & Brazilian Association on Collective Health-ABRASCO)-Public Health in a Globalized World: breaking down social, economic, and political barriersworked as an invitation to respond to key challenges in the field of social development, protection and promotion of health and life. From August 21st to 25th 2006 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Congresses joined over eleven thousands participants. A record number of 9.669 abstracts was submitted and 419 Brazilian and international members of the Review Committee approved 671 (22.2% from the international community) for oral presentations and 7.433 (5.0% from international authors) studies for posters' presentation. This huge scientific production resulted in a Program that included 5 main conferences; 16 main debates; 152 panels and lectures; 168 free themes communications and 7.433 posters presentations. The program also provided: 24 workshops; 15 Business and Scientific Meetings, 3 assemblies, 3 international fora and symposiums. The International Health Expo presented 57 exhibitors-national and international, governmental and NGO organizations, research and teaching centers. The presence of the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Opening Ceremony highlighted the value of the Congresses and in his speech he transmitted the Brazilian Government commitment to social development and Health, and invited all countries' representatives to a joint effort against poverty and social inequities. During the Congresses Health Ministers, institutional representatives and delegates from 77 countries shared their visions, ideas and proposals for a better and healthier world for all. The congress main sessions interacted with the Congresses theme and its dimensions: Global Actions on the Social Determinants of Health; Global Governance, Citizen Participation and the Right to Health; Strategies to Promote Equitable Healthcare Systems; New Frontiers in Science and Technology for Public Health [ethical aspects, global access to health innovative technology and drugs] Dr. Paulo Buss' Leavell Awarded Lecture on Globalization, Poverty and Health synthesizes the impacts of today's global economic policies on social inequities, poverty and Health. As he assessed the scenario of international aid for social development he compared military investments with MDG investments, demonstrating the gap between speech [of governments and international agencies] and social needs and policies. He commented on the ongoing experiences of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization-GAVI; the Tobacco Control Framework; the WTO TRIPS agreement; the Tobin Tax initiative; and the International Committee on Social Determinants of Health. These experiences, as he pointed out must be supported and may work as examples in the construction of a solidary and cooperative agenda between rich and poor nations for the reduction of poverty a...