(Press Release) Port of Spain – Regional and national technical health experts recently gathered in Trinidad and Tobago to collaborate on the development of the PAHO/WHO Caribbean Subregional Cooperation Strategy (SCS). The SCS aims to strengthen regional health priorities, address pressing health challenges, and support sustainable health development across the Caribbean. The experts were convened to ensure that the priorities of the strategy reflect the needs and main concerns of the Caribbean region.
Minster of Health, Trinidad and Tobago, Terrance Deyalsingh, noted that through the strategy, PAHO will continue its role as a cornerstone in supporting public health in the Caribbean, aligning its goals with the frameworks of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH) initiatives. “In this evolving landscape, our ability to protect and promote health depends on coordinated action. The new SCS seeks to optimise resource allocation, advocate for stronger health policies, and deepen partnerships across the region. Such collaboration is critical, as it ensures that technical and financial resources are used efficiently, magnifying the impact of health initiatives for our people,” Mr Deyalsingh noted.
PAHO/WHO Acting Subregional Program Director of the Subregional Program Coordination Office, Dr Juan Manuel Sotelo, explained that the medium-term framework will define the strategic priorities, key issues, deliverables, and outcomes that will guide PAHO/WHO’s
technical cooperation during 2025-2029. “It is a planning tool that guides PAHO/WHO work in partnership with the CARICOM Integration mechanism and its entities,” Dr Sotelo stated.
While pointing out that health is the foundation for sustainable development, economic growth and social wellbeing, Souad Lakhdim, PAHO/WHO Country Program Advisor, Country and Subregional Cooperation, stated that the SCS for the Caribbean will define PAHO/WHO’s work to support the common public goods in the Caribbean, guiding the planning and allocation of resources and mobilizing support for the common priorities. “It also enhances our ability to coordinate partnerships to tackle public health challenges with CARICOM and other key stakeholders through collaborative and intersectoral initiatives,” she said.
Tamara Bobb, Programme Manager for Health Sector Development at CARICOM, delivered remarks on behalf of Assistant Secretary General Allyson Drayton. She noted that CARICOM Ministers, at the recent 47th COHSOD meeting in September, supported the development of the new Caribbean SCS. Ms. Bobb emphasized that aligning past versions of the PAHO SCS with the Caribbean Cooperation in Health framework has ensured that health initiatives are in sync with the priorities and needs of CARICOM Member States.
Advancing public health in the Caribbean requires tailored, specific interventions; a ‘one size does not fit all’ approach simply doesn’t work for our region,” emphasized Dr Lisa Indar, Acting Executive Director of CARPHA. She stressed the importance of robust coordination among agencies, international partners, and member states, supported by information sharing, trust, and political backing. Dr Indar also highlighted the longstanding partnership among these agencies, noting that seamless collaboration is essential for effective technical cooperation and minimizing burdens on countries.
This technical stakeholder consultation will be followed by a multistakeholder meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, on November 14-15, 2024. The final SCS is expected to be released early next year.
About the Pan American Health Organisation
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of its population. Founded in 1902, it is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the Regional Office of WHO for the Americas and is the specialized health agency of the Inter-American system.
The PAHO Subregional Program is responsible for providing subregional technical cooperation and to strengthen PAHO’s engagement with the Caribbean Subregional integration mechanisms, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its various bodies and organs; and to build synergistic partnerships with the West Indies (UWI), among others. PAHO’s subregional technical cooperation specifically focuses on public health issues which would benefit from economies of scale and for which agreement on proposed collective responses and actions would produce a far greater impact rather than individual country responses. The Subregional Program also plays a role in coordinating among the different PAHO country offices.
