The paper then goes on to delineate what are the local and federal roles as well as what APHA itself could do. I wish to relate this to the Americas and the state of the health of its public. There is no doubt about the steady improvement in the indicators of population health in the Americas. Indicators such as infant mortality rates and life expectancy have progressively got better. Rates of population growth have slowed and crude death rates have fallen.
More persons have access to potable water and sewerage.
This improvement can be seen in all countries irrespective of their level of wealth and is undoubtedly due to the performance of what are described as essential public health functions by the governments of the hemisphere. This is all the more noteworthy when we consider the economic crises and the natural and other disasters that have battered this Region. The steady improvement overall must also be a tribute to public health workers who have been remarkable in their efforts to apply those technologies that are known to improve population health. Although we are pleased with the progress made, there is obviously much more to be done. The advances are uneven and no one can say that all the conditions are present to ensure healthy communities.