Health and the Millennium Development Goals: from Commitment to Action.

Since 2003, the Annual Report of the Director of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization has focused on a specific area of PAHO/WHO's technical cooperation, providing an in-depth analysis of a key aspect of the Organization's wide-ranging work as well as a conceptual lens through which to report its many projects, activities, and achievements.

The focus of this year's report—the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)—was chosen for two reasons. As a global mandate that reflects and reinforces the Organization's core values and orientation, the MDG framework has given increased impetus and direction to PAHO/WHO's technical cooperation throughout the past decade.

In addition, the period covered by this year's report—2010-2011—coincides with the two-thirds mark between the Millennium Declaration and the 2015 end date proposed for achieving the MDGs. With just five years remaining, it is a fitting moment to review progress toward achieving the MDGs in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as PAHO/WHO's support for its member countries' efforts and lessons that can be used to accelerate progress over the next few years.