Belize, 19 February 2019 (PAHO/WHO) – Repositioning public health in the 21st Century is the main focus of the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) sub-regional country managers meeting of Central American countries, Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, that is taking place until 22 February in Belize.
“The new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes a specific objective on health and other objectives have several targets related to health - We must therefore address health challenges and the social determinants of these challenges in a holistic way, alongside other sectors, so that no-one gets left behind,” said the Director of PAHO and Regional Director for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Carissa F. Etienne.
During the meeting, the highest authorities of PAHO will define strategic, programmatic and management approaches for national and sub-regional technical cooperation provided by the Organization to its Member States.
At the opening ceremony, PAHO Directors heard from Dr. Francis Morey, the Deputy Director of Health Services of the Ministry of Health of Belize, about how multilateral agendas can contribute to health development in the country. In addition, the Director of International Affairs (Policy) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belize, Ayesha Borland, spoke of the opportunities and challenges for multilateral cooperation, as well as countries’ expectations regarding the role of multilateralism in a divided world.
The meeting is organized by PAHO’s Office of Country and Sub-regional Coordination, led by Ana Treasure, and the PAHO Representative to Belize, led by Dr. Noreen Jack. PAHO technical directors are also participating from the departments of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health; Family, Gender and Life Course; Health Services and Systems; Emergencies, and Planning and Budget.
