Panama City, August 1 (RHC)-- Cuba has been elected President and General Secretary of the Alliance of Public Health Associations of the Americas (APHA), a member of the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA). The decision was in recognition of Cuba's cooperation in the field with other nations in the hemisphere and around the world, including the training of human resources.

The decision was adopted by public acclaim during the the 1st International Public Health Conference in Panama.

In April 2015, the World Federation of Public Health Associations and other national public health associations in the Americas region met in the Cuban capital for the inaugural meeting of the Alliance of Public Health Associations of the Americas.

As a regional association, the Alliance promotes the development and strengthening of national public health associations, serves as a leader and convener to guide national associations to collaborate more effectively with each other to improve health and well-being and advances public health education, research, policy and practice.