Enhanced surveillance for the Third United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States, Apia, Samoa, September 2014

The Ministry of Health in Samoa, in partnership with the Pacific Community, successfully implemented enhanced surveillance for the high-profile Third United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States held concurrently with the popular local Teuila festival during a widespread chikungunya outbreak in September 2014. Samoa’s weekly syndromic surveillance system was expanded to 12 syndromes and 10 sentinel sites from four syndromes and seven sentinel sites; sites included the national hospital, four private health clinics and three national health service clinics. Daily situation reports were produced and were disseminated through PacNet (the email alert and communication tool of the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network) together with daily prioritized line lists of syndrome activity to facilitate rapid response and investigation by the Samoan EpiNet team. Standard operating procedures for surveillance and response were introduced, together with a sustainability plan, including a monitoring and evaluation framework, to facilitate the transition of the mass gathering surveillance improvements to routine surveillance. The enhanced surveillance performed well, providing vital disease early warning and health security assurance. A total of 2386 encounters and 708 syndrome cases were reported. Influenza-like illness was the most frequently seen syndrome (17%). No new infectious disease outbreaks were recorded. The experience emphasized: (1) the need for a long lead time to pilot the surveillance enhancements and to maximize their sustainability; (2) the importance of good communication between key stakeholders; and (3) having sufficient staff dedicated to both surveillance and response.

Situación y retos de Colombia en materia de comercio exterior, en el marco de la Alianza del Pacífico

La Alianza del Pacífico se define como una iniciativa de integración profunda que procura abordar temas complejos (no de índole exclusivamente comercial) y que se fundamenta en las motivaciones y aspiraciones de los países miembros y fundadores, que tienen como objetivo lograr: una eficiente apertura comercial, la incursión a nuevos mercados y la inserción en las Cadenas Globales de Valor (GCV). A pesar de que entre Colombia y cada uno de los países que hoy conforman la Alianza del Pacífico existen acuerdos y tratados comerciales de décadas atrás, una revisión de la dinámica comercial entre el país cafetero y este grupo evidencia: por una parte, el deterioro en el volumen de las exportaciones, y por otra, un aumento de las importaciones, principalmente con México, lo que ha generado una balanza comercial en déficit, y un rezago considerable de apertura comercial, medida en términos per cápita. No obstante, al profundizar en el análisis por medio de la aplicación de indicadores como el de Balassa, se determina una cierta estabilidad y eficiencia de Colombia al exportar hacia estos países, como también la existencia de un grupo de productos con una considerable ventaja comparativa, pero poco exportados por el país cafetero.

The Pacific Alliance is an initiative characterized by deeper integration that seeks to address complex issues (not those related exclusively to trade). The PA is founded on the motivations and aspirations of its founder countries. The PA aims to achieve efficient trade liberalization, entry into new markets and integration into Global Value Chains (GVC). Although the existing trade agreements between Colombia and each of the member countries date from several decades ago, a current review of trade dynamics between Colombia and all the other member countries highlights, on the one hand, the deterioration in the volume of exports, and on the other hand, an increase in imports, mainly from Mexico. This has generated a negative trade balance and a considerable lag in terms of openness to foreign trade, measured in per capita terms. However an in-depth analysis through the application of indicators such as Balassa, shows Colombia possesses a measure of stability and efficiency to export to these countries, as well as highlighting the existence of a group of products with considerable comparative advantage, but barely exported by Colombia.

A Aliança do Pacífico é definida como uma iniciativa de integração profunda que procura abordar questões complexas (natureza não puramente comercial) e baseia-se nas motivações e aspirações dos países membros e fundadores, que visam alcançar: uma liberalização do comércio eficiente a incursão em novos mercados e integração nas Cadeias Globais de Valor (GCV). Embora entre a Colômbia e cada um dos países que hoje compõem a Aliança do Pacífico, existem acordos comerciais e tratados de décadas atrás, uma revisão da dinâmica das trocas comerciais entre o país de café e este grupo evidência: por um lado, a deterioração o volume de exportações, e, por outro, o aumento das importações, principalmente do México, o que gerou um déficit da balança comercial e um atraso considerável de liberalização do comércio, medido em termos per capita. No entanto, uma análise mais aprofundada através da aplicação de indicadores, tais como Balassa, determina-se uma certa estabilidade e eficiência da Colômbia para exportar para esses países, bem como a existência de um grupo de produtos com considerável vantagem comparativa, mas pouco café exportado pelo país.