Andean nations launch regional health plans for nutrition and climate resilience

The Andean Community (CAN) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have launched regional initiatives to address critical health challenges in the Andean region. Through the Andean Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the CAN approved a 2026–2030 Work Plan focused on preventing and reducing chronic childhood malnutrition and maternal-infant anemia. This plan aims to transform these issues from individual national priorities into a shared regional agenda for Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, utilizing technical assistance from ORAS-CONHU.

In a separate but related health effort, the Andean Health and Climate Change Plan 2026–2031 was presented to strengthen health system resilience against climate-related risks. Approved by health authorities from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, the plan seeks to protect over 173 million people. It focuses on enhancing surveillance, early warning systems, and climate-resilient health services to mitigate the impacts of rising temperatures, floods, droughts, and the spread of climate-sensitive diseases.