Background The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention entered into a five-year cooperative agreement with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on June 15, 200 8. On September 19, 2011, the Government of the United States of America and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed a memorandum

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of understanding (MOU) to help WHO Member States strengthen their capabilities to support the International Health Regulations (IHR), an international agreement that requires Member States to prevent and respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders.

The MOU includes specific statements that authorize WHO and its regional offices (including PAHO) to pursue activities that improve the ability of all nations to detect, report, and respond to infectious diseases quickly and accurately.

CDC program managers, PAHO administrators, and national health authorities in the Americas agree that the activities funded under the current agreement have supported the requirements of the MOU, strengthened overall infectious disease surveillance and response in the Americas, improved national and regional public health infrastructure and systems, and provided critical technical assistance in support of applied epidemiology and the development of infectious disease prevention and control strategies.

This funding opportunity announcement will continue this mutually beneficial partnership.

The scope and objectives of this NOFO fall under the MOU, integrating IHR core capacities in the Americas' health systems.

PAHO's formal treaty relationships with all of the ministries of health in the Americas make it the only organization that can carry out fully the proposed activities.

Accomplishments under CK13-1301 show that PAHO has established the foundation to support current and future activities (e.g., laboratories and surveillance to prevent and control arboviruses/Zika; HIV prevention, surveillance, care and treatment policies/interventions; foodborne outbreaks; canine rabies vaccinations; epidemic preparedness; hospital acquired infections and safe patient care).

Purpose The purpose of the program is to assist PAHO in implementing the MOU regarding the International Health Regulations ["Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the United States of America and the World Health Organization Regarding Cooperation on Global Health Security Issues," dated 09/22/2011], including the development and implementation of coordinated plans and networks that enable national governments and regional authorities in the Americas to better address infectious diseases, particularly emerging infections.

Specific activities will focus on enhancing the global alert and response systems through improving infectious disease surveillance and response; enhancing knowledge generation, innovation, and tools for improved management that build public health infrastructure and strengthen regional health leadership and collaboration; sharing knowledge, tools and other resources in support of applied epidemiology; strengthening regional and national public health networks to enhance inter-sectorial co-operation for preparedness and management of public health risks; and developing improved infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control strategies.

Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with a performance goal for the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID):
Protect Americans from Infectious Diseases.

Program Implementation Recipient Activities:
Strengthen the national capacity of countries, (including regional and sub-regional networks) in the Americas to detect, verify, assess and respond to outbreaks and other public health emergencies of national and international concern (PHEICs).

Support implementation of the IHR by analyzing regional, national, and local resources in the Americas devoted to infectious diseases and identifying areas for implementation of infectious disease activities consistent with the purpose of this cooperative agreement.

Collaborate with other health organizations, academic institutions, and community.

Strengthen and enhance surveillance for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in the Americas.

Develop, implement, and conduct projects to enhance infectious disease surveillance, response, prevention, and control.

Strengthen national capacities for safe patient care and clinical management.

Develop and implement national policy, guidelines and tools that strengthen patient care and patient safety.

Monitor reports on compliance with policies and guidelines.

Monitor and evaluate overall program performance and the progress of individual projects or activities.

Disseminate program information and data.

Submit program progress reports.

Publish and disseminate findings, program evaluations, and lessons learned.

Report on improved infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control strategies.

In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff is substantially involved in the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.

CDC Activities:
Assist in the analysis and interpretation of data generated from projects developed to enhance infectious disease surveillance, response, prevention, and control.

Provide training and technical support:
Provide access to subject matter expertise at CDC.

This may include developing and providing training materials, providing special laboratory reagents, participating in country or project assessment teams, and other activities.

Develop performance measures and technical assistance in the design, conduct, and evaluation of projects and activities.

Participate in the dissemination of program information and data.