WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) — The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says it is looking for innovative community-based solutions for health care delivery issues related to infectious diseases in Central America and the Caribbean.

On Thursday PAHO said that it is collaborating on this initiative with the International Training and Medical Research Centre (CIDEIM) of Colombia, ICESI University of Colombia, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR).

PAHO said the call seeks to identify social innovation projects in health that empower indigenous communities, improve health and well-being, and address conditions and root causes that contribute to death. The call for solutions closes on July 31.

Submissions can be done through the Initiative for Social Innovation in Health  website, a global partnership of associates who are passionate about finding and advancing innovative community solutions in health.

PAHO is part of this partnership, which, in 2015 identified 23 examples of social innovation in health in 15 countries around the world, including two in the Americas.

In Central America and the Caribbean, as in other regions of the world, PAHO said thousands of people do not have access to affordable and quality health care.

The health body says medications, vaccines and medical devices do not always reach those who need them.

But PAHO said communities in the countries of the region are finding solutions to strengthen health care and make it affordable to the population.

Health workers, business owners, students, government workers, programmers, community members and innovators who are addressing local health problems and applying more inclusive, effective, and affordable health care solutions can apply, PAHO said.

“Through the call for solutions, we will study, evaluate and select the most promising projects to carry out case studies that advance knowledge about innovative approaches to health care,” the organizations point out on the initiative’s website.

The selected projects will be recognised by national and global health policy-makers, and case studies will be made and published, PAHO said.

It said the awarded individuals will meet other social innovators in the region, and inspire others by sharing their experiences and help develop collective knowledge in this field.