Barbados, September 25, 2024 (PAHO). The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) recently met at the PAHO Barbados Office to discuss plans to collaborate as they work toward a common goal – supporting the OECS countries more efficiently.
Discussions were preceded by a tour led by Acting PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries and Advisor Health Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Prabhjot Singh, and Acting Administrator Kim Foster. PAHO and OECS team members were introduced, and the meetings commenced.
International PAHO Consultant - Programme Management and Partnerships, Guy Earle, outlined PAHO’s ongoing efforts to develop a new strategic plan for the 2026 to 2031 period, while Dr. Singh guided the OECS team through PAHO’s organizational chart. OECS Head – Human and Social Division, Sisera Simon, steered the discussion on the OECS structure and cross cutting themes: youth empowerment, partnerships, gender equality and innovation.
Simon was joined by her colleagues Dr. Roxanne Brizan-St. Martin, Programme Director Health, Social Inclusion, and Social Protection; Roselyn Opel, Head, Pooled Procurement Services (PPS); and Abraham S. Weekes, Senior Technical Specialist, Quality Assurance, Pharmaceutical Procurement Service.
Together, the teams engaged on the strategic and technical issues like disease elimination, environmental health, primary health, supply chain and vaccination, examined the collaboration of the two entities going forward, as well as discussed non-communicable diseases and health systems.
Additionally, PAHO’s Office Assistant Sonia Bovell presented on the Strategic Fund/Revolving Fund, while Advisor, NCDs and Mental Health, Dr. Taraleen Malcolm, Advisor, Family and Community Health, Dr. Solange Kobi-Jackson, and Advisor, Health Systems and Services, Dr. Vishwanath Partapsingh, led the group in discussions on Better Care for NCDs Cooperation among Countries for Health Development (CCHD).
