Americas Health Foundation

It's December! Happy Birthday to... Our publication on Healthcare Disparities in Atopic Dermatitis in Latin America: A Narrative Review, published in December 2022. This publication has reached the milestone of 3,776 accesses. Click here to revisit the full article: https://buff.ly/3ZLoD7n Thank you to Drs. Arturo Borzutzky, Selva Iris Ale, Maria Valeria Angles, Guillermo Guidos-Fogelbach, Jorge Sánchez, and Roberto Takaoka. #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #healthcare #policy #AHF

This week marks the observance of National Influenza Vaccination Week, a reminder that it's never too late to get vaccinated. The flu vaccine is crucial in safeguarding your health and the well-being of those around you. By getting the flu shot, you're not just protecting yourself; you're contributing to the collective defense against the spread of influenza within your community. Getting vaccinated reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and complications. In Latin America, vaccination efforts have made significant strides, but challenges remain. Coverage rates for influenza vaccination vary widely across countries, often influenced by disparities in access, awareness, and resources. Expanding access to vaccines is essential to protecting vulnerable populations and reducing the public health burden of influenza in the region. Click to learn more about the work AHF has done on infectious diseases and vaccination: https://buff.ly/3KiLLTZ #NationalInfluenzaVaccinationWeek #vaccines #influenza #healthcare #access #AHF

PUBLICATION ANNOUNCEMENT: we are proud to announce that another one of our manuscripts has been published. "Current landscape of BRAF-V600E metastatic CRC management in Latin America: an expert Latin American panel’s recommendations," was published in ecancer Medical Science, an open-access cancer journal: In this manuscript, the authors examine the current landscape of BRAF-V600E metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) management in Latin America. They assess challenges related to variability in BRAF-V600E testing and treatment access, highlighting significant limitations in regional diagnostic and therapeutic practices. The expert panel proposes actionable recommendations, including the establishment of local guidelines, multidisciplinary boards, and improved access to tumor genotyping. The manuscript also outlines evidence-based treatment protocols for first- and second-line therapies, emphasizing the importance of integrating molecular profiling into patient care to enhance regional outcomes. Congratulations to all authors Anelisa Coutinho, MD, Carolina Blanco, MD, Guillermo Mendez, MD, Juan Carlos Samamé Pérez-Vargas, MD, MSc., Juan Manuel O´Connor, MD, Markus Gifoni, MD, MSc, PhD, Gayatri Sanku, PhD, MPH, Angela Jansen, PhD, MHS, and Mariana Rico, MD. Access the full manuscript here: https://buff.ly/4ijRici

"A Blueprint to Advance Genomic Medicine in Latin America" is now available on-demand. Register to watch the webinar recording here: https://lnkd.in/gy4SF_Q8 #AHF #GenomicMedicine #LatinAmerica Illumina RARE Revolution Magazine Mariana Rico Lygia Pereira Rebecca Stewart Becky Pender Luis Quiñones Adriana M. Robayo G. MD #AndresMorenoEstrada Departamento de Oncología Básico-Clínica

Today is #PancreaticCancerAwarenessDay! This day raises awareness about pancreatic cancer, which has the highest mortality rate among major cancers. Often diagnosed late, it's crucial to recognize risk factors like family history, smoking, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. In Latin America, pancreatic cancer poses significant challenges due to high mortality and limited early detection. Uruguay reports the highest regional incidence, with 15.8 per 100,000 men in 2019. Early detection is vital, yet only 10% of cases are diagnosed early. Common symptoms like jaundice, darker urine, appetite loss, weight loss, and fatigue often go unnoticed until late stages. Learn more about AHF's work on cancer care: https://buff.ly/3MNUqOE Poster by Kathryn Salvatierra #PancreaticCancerAwarenessDay #awareness #pancreaticcancer #oncology #policy #healthcare #AHF

Did you attend? What were your thoughts? Drawing from the PAHO Regional Meeting on Human Genomics for Health, our webinar – A Blueprint to Advance Genomic Medicine in Latin America – explored strategies to advance genomic medicine in Latin America. Sponsored by Illumina and the Americas Health Foundation, the event featured Dr. Lygia Pereira (Brazil), Dr. Adriana M. Robayo G. MD (Colombia), Dr. Luis Quiñones (Chile), and Dr. Andrés Moreno Estrada (Mexico).   The panel highlighted actionable strategies to advance genomic medicine in Latin America:    1. Leveraging International Frameworks: Panelists underscored the importance of drawing from successful international frameworks such as the UK biobank, in addition to utilizing global initiatives like the WHO Council Report "Accelerating access to genomics for global health" to drive action at the regional level.    2. Improving Health Technology Assessment (HTA): Improving HTA processes was identified as critical, with a focus on equity, ethical considerations, and effective decision-making, particularly to benefit underserved and rural populations.    3. Building Regional Biobanks: Biobanks tailored to the region’s genetic diversity are vital. Initiatives such as "Genomas Brasil" were cited as models to emulate.    4. Advancing Pharmacogenomics: The panel called for training programs, the creation of national guidelines, and dedicated resources for pharmacogenomics. Developing public awareness campaigns was also highlighted as a potential strategy to increase understanding of genomic medicine’s potential in the region.    5. Strengthening Local Leadership: All speakers emphasized empowering local leadership and building regional capacity, supported by international collaborations to improve existing initiatives.    Recommendations for Progress: - Expand training programs in bioinformatics and genomics.  - Develop and implement ethical frameworks and policy guidelines.  - Foster regional collaborations while prioritizing local research and development (R&D). - Improve infrastructure for genomic programs.  - Increase public genomic literacy through targeted education campaigns.  - Educate decision makers to potentially drive political action and overcome funding limitations.  - Leverage existing resources, such as data from the public health system.   This discussion underscored the importance of sustainable and collaborative efforts to integrate genomic medicine into public health systems in Latin America.   AHF thanks the speakers and participants for their contributions to this insightful and necessary conversation, RARE Revolution Magazine for hosting and moderating, and Illumina for sponsoring this event.    A recording of the event will be available soon. Stay tuned.   Learn more about AHF: https://lnkd.in/drNVhhwU   #AHF #Genomics #GenomicMedicine #LatinAmerica

Our webinar is starting in an hour. We hope to see you there: https://lnkd.in/gAacfCCT Illumina RARE Revolution Magazine

Today is the day – "A Blueprint to Advance Genomic Medicine in Latin America" starts at 2PM ET. REGISTER NOW: https://lnkd.in/gy4SF_Q8 #AHF #GenomicMedicine #LatinAmerica Illumina RARE Revolution Magazine

The webinar "A Blueprint to Advance Genomic Medicine in Latin America" is fast approaching. Meet one of our speakers, Dr. Lygia Carramaschi. Don't forget to register and join us next Tuesday, November 19th: https://lnkd.in/gy4SF_Q8 #AHF #GenomicMedicine #LatinAmerica Illumina RARE Revolution Magazine

The webinar "A Blueprint to Advance Genomic Medicine in Latin America" is fast approaching. Meet one of our speakers, Dr. Andrés Moreno Estrada Don't forget to register and join us next Tuesday, November 19th: https://lnkd.in/gy4SF_Q8 #AHF #GenomicMedicine #LatinAmerica Illumina RARE Revolution Magazine