Background

Latin America and the Caribbean face a context marked by three development traps that limit progress toward inclusive social development. In addition, the structural challenges of the region’s health systems, such as chronic underfunding alongside high out-of-pocket expenses, segmentation, and fragmentation, create inequalities in access and health outcomes (Marinho, Dahuabe, and Arenas de Mesa, 2023). The COVID-19 pandemic further worsened this situation, causing a 32% setback in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and impacting key health indicators such as maternal mortality, immunization coverage, and others related to malnutrition and mental health (ECLAC/PAHO, 2024).

ECLAC has reaffirmed the need for countries in the region to strengthen their commitment to universal health by enhancing efforts to build universal, comprehensive, sustainable, and resilient health systems. Health, recognized as a fundamental human right, is essential for the physical, mental, and social well-being of individuals and constitutes a central dimension of social protection. When the right to health is compromised, other social rights are also at risk due to their interdependence (Marinho, Dahuabe, and Arenas de Mesa, 2023). In this context, the regional situation demands the adoption of innovative strategies that address the complexity of health inequalities and guarantee the principle of “leaving no one behind,” the cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.

Intersectionality in health is a key approach to reducing inequalities and achieving inclusive, sustainable, and resilient social development by addressing the social determinants of health. It enables the design of more effective and comprehensive public policies by promoting collaboration among sectors such as education, sports, labor, environment, housing, and social protection. Moreover, it highlights the strategic role of working jointly with Primary Health Care (PHC), as it is the closest channel to understand the realities of people and their communities, identifying their specific needs and barriers to access, while considering a preventive and health-promoting approach. Therefore, strengthening health systems reinforces other areas of social development, improving the population’s well-being and quality of life.

Objective

Within the framework of the United Nations Development Account project “Resilient health systems with Universal Coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean”, this side event aims to share national experiences of intersectionality in health. Through the exchange of good practices and lessons learned, it seeks to strengthen regional cooperation and advance towards universal, sustainable, comprehensive and resilient health systems.

13:00 – 13:10 Welcome remarks

• Alberto Arenas de Mesa, Director of Social Development Division, ECLAC

13:10 – 14:20 National experiences of intersectionality in health

• Manuel Cervantes Ocampo, Head of the IMSS Bienestar Program Unit, Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), Mexico
• Ms. Pilar Torres, Head of the Planning and Sectoral Studies Office, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Colombia
• Dr. Jeanette Vega, Reform Commission, Ministry of Health (MINSAL), Chile
• María Alejandra Menaldo, Vice Minister of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, Ministry of Social Development (MDS), Guatemala (to be confirmed)
• Deboráh Itriago, Specialist in Social Determinants of Health
• Orielle Solar, Head of the Health Promotion and Social Determinants Unit, PAHO

14:20 – 14:30 Closing 

• María Luisa Marinho, Social Affairs Officer, Social Development Division

Moderator: María Luisa Marinho, Social Affairs Officer, Social Development Division