Health ministers and high-level health authorities from the Americas, including the Caribbean, have convened this week for the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
This crucial gathering aims to address pressing health issues such as amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the creation of a global instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
Jamaica’s push for primary health care
Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Christopher Tufton, emphasized the country’s commitment to enhancing primary health care.
He highlighted the development of a hospital model designed to decentralize specialist services, ensuring easier access and reduced waiting times for high-demand services.
This model aims to improve the management of illnesses contributing to Jamaica’s mortality and morbidity burden.
Tufton also addressed the critical issue of human resources for health, which threatens to undermine the progress made in Jamaica and other small island developing states.
He called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen its efforts to help small countries build resilience through partnerships with training institutions, accreditation bodies, and clinical training programs.
Cuba advocates for global collaboration and investment
Cuba’s Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, underscored the necessity of genuine collaboration and investment in public health at a global level.
In an interconnected world, he stressed that global health issues impact all sectors and require a comprehensive approach.
Portal Miranda reiterated Cuba’s active participation in negotiations for a legal instrument promoted by WHO to support pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response.
Barbados emphasizes equity and solidarity
Wayne Marshall, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Wellness of Barbados, highlighted the importance of equity and solidarity in the pandemic treaty.
He urged WHO to recognize the special circumstances of small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response efforts.
Marshall emphasized that WHO’s pursuit to address these concerns must remain a priority to ensure no member state is left behind.
Haiti’s call for international collaboration
Haiti’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Justin Viard, expressed the nation’s commitment to the global agreement aimed at protecting communities and countries from pandemic threats.
He stressed the importance of resilient and stable healthcare systems with equitable access to innovation and care.
Viard highlighted that inequality, armed conflict, and avoidable epidemics significantly impact healthcare systems and must be addressed to ensure a livable planet for future generations.
