and Venezuela were warmly greeted and welcomed. This congress was co-organized by the International Association of Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health, ICOH, the Colombian government and several public and private organizations, under the leadership of the ICOH National Secretariat of Colombia. More than sixty Colombians helped with the organization, logistics, press and commercial expo, making this a successful and unforgettable event. Central theme was Health and safety for rural

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... s: from theory to practice for which the final program included pre-congress workshops, satellite courses, keynote conferences, round tables, forums and poster Sessions. Mainstream and key topics discussed included: 1) Social determinants of Rural Health and Development, with special emphasis on vulnerable rural populations: women, children, migrants and indigenous people; 2) Environmental and Climatic Factors highlighting climatic change impacts, food security and sustainable agriculture; 3 3) Work hazards and Risks in Agriculture focused on pesticide use and control, MSD, solar radiation, biological risk exposures (H1N1 management) and chemical risk assessments; 4) Health Service provision in rural areas raised discussions about primary healthcare and BOHS; 5) Health Education for Rural Populations with initiatives for youth insertion to agricultural practices; and 6) International and regional approaches for health and safety in agriculture in which needs of strengthening rural health practices particularly in Africa and Latin America were made visible. Latin American WONCA members and family physicians held a great special session on primary health care in rural areas. Also, members of rural, grassroots, community and indigenous movements from Colombia contributed significantly with their points of view. Key final issues and results are summarized in: 1) the Cartagena Declaration on Rural Health in Latin America; 2) the Colombian Agricultural United Movement Declaration; 3) The drafted version of a memorandum of understanding between ICOH and IAAMRH; Picture 5: In the afternoon of the downtown of Cartagena Picture 6: Downtown of Cartagena. The road is narrow. 7 Picture 7: Panoramic view of Cartagena from the hill top Cliffs of castle (legacy of the world) are seen in the center of the picture. We, the participants in the 17th International Congress of Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health, are aware that a significant component of the global population, including the Latin American population lives and works in rural areas where they face evident gaps in access to health care delivery, occupational health care and safety, and basic living conditions and infrastructure, including access to drinking water and sanitation.