With over 2.5 million users, PAHO's Virtual Campus for Public Health celebrates 20 years of operation

With over 2.5 million users, PAHO's Virtual Campus for Public Health celebrates 20 years of operation

Washington D.C., 30 October 2023 (PAHO)- The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today commemorated 20 years of operation of its Virtual Public Health Campus (VCPH), highlighting its fundamental contribution to virtual health education. Today, the Campus has over 2.5 million users.

"When we look back to the year 2003 and remember the launch of this pioneering platform, we don't just see a technological tool, but the birth of a vision," PAHO Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa said during an event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Virtual Campus.

With users from 225 countries and territories around the world, the VCPH has proven to be a strategic tool for technical cooperation, enabling rapid training of health workers. During the pandemic, it also played a central role in providing essential information to health teams throughout the Americas region.

Offering a wide range of courses on various health topics, the PAHO Director emphasized that this virtual platform has evolved from a useful online tool to an online university with internationally recognized microcertifications.

"In this era of digital transformation, technology and connectivity are changing the way we live, work, and learn. In this context, the Virtual Campus celebrates 20 years of putting knowledge into practice, promoting the development of trained healthcare workers to ensure resilient health services," added Dr. Barbosa.

All courses offered by the VCPH are freely accessible and provided in Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese, the four official languages of PAHO.

Launch of the new VCPH app

The new Virtual Campus app was also launched during the commemoration event, which will allow users to access the platform from any device, anywhere and at any time.

The app will also enable users to download resources and materials without having to connect to the Internet.

"This new app marks a milestone in our mission to bring PAHO's knowledge to those who need it, offering unprecedented flexibility and accessibility for public health education," emphasized James Fitzgerald, Director of the Department of Health Systems and Services at PAHO.

The app is available in all mobile device application stores under the name PAHO Virtual Campus.