Gente Saludable

Several countries in Latin America are implementing various programs to improve pregnancy and childbirth care and thus reduce maternal, neonatal, and infant morbidity and mortality.

In February of 2025, we gathered to celebrate ten years of work by the Salud Mesoamerica Initiative, a strategy that has enabled us to strengthen maternal and child health care for the most vulnerable populations in eight countries: Belize, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the state of Chiapas in Mexico.

Health is about more than access to doctors and medicine. It is shaped by where we live, the air we breathe, the jobs we have, the education we receive, and the social connections we build. These factors—known as the social determinants of health (SDH)—play a fundamental role in shaping our well-being and life expectancy.

During the Cricket World Cup in June 2024, while thousands of fans attended the matches that took place in Caribbean countries, teams of epidemiologists, doctors and health workers worked quietly behind the scenes using an electronic platform to report and respond promptly to possible disease outbreaks in the mass gatherings.

Cyberattacks are growing exponentially, and lack of cybersecurity is now considered one of the main global risks for economic and social stability. By 2025, the global cost of cybercrime is expected to reach US$10.5 trillion annually, a drastic leap considering that in 2015 it was US$3 trillion.

Diabetes mellitus is an important health issue in Latin America and the Caribbean as it accounts for 4.3% of the disease burden in the region. Disease management programs (DMPs) aim to improve chronic disease care, but they are often complex, involving a wide range of healthcare professionals—doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and specialists—who need to interact regularly with patients.

The Pan-American Highway, which we all know, connects the entire American continent, stretching from Alaska to the southernmost tip of Argentina. However, this highway is not seamless: there is a 130-kilometer gap between Panama and Colombia where the route abruptly ends. In healthcare, interruptions like this are a daily occurrence.

As the year comes to a close, we reflect on the work we've done and the topics that have shaped our blog in 2024. Thanks to the support of specialists, guest authors, and readers from all over the world, we've covered key health topics, shared learnings, and explored innovative solutions.

In this article, we not only highlight the most-read pieces of the year but also share a curated list to keep you updated on the most relevant content from 2023 and 2024.

"More than half of people do not receive the healthcare they need, and this is where telehealth plays an absolutely crucial role." With these words, Ferdinando Regalia, Social Sector Manager at the IDB, opened the webinar Telehealth: Connecting Patients and Providers, organized by the IDB, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the World Bank.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, over 80 million people live with some form of disability, experiencing greater vulnerability than the rest of the population. This represents nearly 15% of the region's population.