Global Perspectives 2008:
Literacy and Health...a Prescription for Economic Development?

Event details

The Global Perspectives 2008 event, hosted by IRA and PAHO, was held March 5 in Washington, D.C. The event addressed the important link between literacy and good health.

For more information

For more information about this event, contact IRA’s Washington D.C. office or call 202-624-8800.

Program

Dr. Jorge Escobedo de la Peña discussed the Oportunidades Program, the principal anti-poverty program of the Mexican Government focused on helping poor families in rural and urban communities invest in human capital.

Francisca Infante discussed the JUNAEB Program -- Junta Nacional de Auxilio Escolar y Becas (JUNAEB), a government sponsored program uniting the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to foster economic and social development in Chile.

IRA and PAHO showcased the importance and the power of an alliance between education and literacy and health for positive economic and social development. The JUNAEB program is well established in Chile and has demonstrated that this alliance can benefit a country socially and economically.

Literacy and good health go hand-in-hand. Education and literacy combat health scourges like:

Good health, especially in children, enhances learning ability.

Important resources

Archive of Global Perspective reports