WHO boosts CARICOM health emergency program

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are to benefit from a new plan approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for new health emergency program, globally.

Caribbean health ministers were among delegates at the WHO meeting in Geneva and according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the program adds operational capabilities for outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies that are complemented by the traditional technical and normative roles of the organization.

The new program is designed to deliver rapid, predictable and comprehensive support to countries and communities as they prepare for, face, or recover from emergencies caused by any type of hazard to the human health, whether disease outbreaks, natural or man-made disasters or conflicts,” PAHO said.

The objective is to combine management of responses to natural disasters, humanitarian disasters, and complex epidemic outbreaks. PAHO says in order to fulfill these new responsibilities, delegates agreed on a US$494 million budget for the program for 2016-2017.

This is an increase of US$160 million in the existing program budget for WHO’s work in emergencies, PAHO said, noting that the delegates welcomed the progress that WHO has made in developing the new Health Emergencies Program, particularly noting the new implementation plan and timeline, as well as the establishment of an Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee.