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Dr. Etinenne brings a wealth of experience and understands the issues affecting small countries in the Caribbean, such as HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and immunisation. This is the second time a Caribbean national has held the post, the first being Sir George Alleyne.
The current Director, Dr. Mirta Rosas, has served for 10 years and has done a lot for the development of health policies and representing the Caribbean during her tenure.
While in Washington, Minister Ramsaran chaired A Partners Forum for the donors who contribute to the development of the new Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and also attracted many bilateral donor partners, Caribbean Ministers of Health and other participating institutions.
Minister Ramsaran also chaired the 4th meeting of the Board of Directors of CARPHA, for which he is also the Chairman. That meeting looked at a number of important issues regarding the establishment of CARPHA which will be located in Trinidad and Tobago. Plans are in train for the construction of a new a lab for the agency.
The successful establishment of CARPHA will see the five existing health institutions that serve the Caribbean being brought under one umbrella: the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC); the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI); the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI); the Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (CRDTL); and the Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC).
Dr. Persaud explained that two of these organisations are PAHO agencies, and in that regard, Minister Ramsaran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with PAHO’s Director to bring them under the CARPHA umbrella. This action will see the retiring of CFNI and its functions relating to food policy and nutrition in the Caribbean taken over by CARPHA.
There was also the Caucus of Health Ministers of CARICOM meeting where the ministers deliberated on the general health agenda of the Caribbean. Some of the areas they discussed included the third phase of the Caribbean Charter for Health and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The ministers have agreed that CARICOM countries will continue to work with the WHO agenda as defined under the UN high-level meeting, which was held recently on NCDs, where four diseases – cardiovascular, diabetes, cancers and illnesses relating to chronic respiratory issues – will be the first priority in the planning phases for the next three to five years.
Guyana was able to share its achievements in the diabetic foot care programme, where the focus is on prevention or saving limbs.
Dr. Persaud indicated that this is a very big task since it is not just about providing treatment and care, but most of the efforts target reducing the risk factors, as most times when such a disease is present, health professionals are not able to achieve any cure.
Addressing these matters effectively also calls for collaboration with partners outside of the health sector, such as the Ministries of Sport, Human Services, Education and Local Government, service agencies, the private sector, religious organisations, NGOs and civil society.
It is hoped that under the Port of Spain Declaration, each country, as mandated, will be able to establish a committee to deal with these issues. Guyana’s Health Ministry already has an oversight committee for NCDs; however, there is now a need to expand to include others, such as the media.
Attention was also placed on the implementation of the International Health Regulations of 2005 which Guyana signed on to in 2007. Since then, Guyana was given up to June 2012 to put all the systems in place; however, there were two areas in which Guyana was not able to achieve full compliance, nuclear and chemical threats. (GINA)
