Carissa Etienne, regional-director for the WHO Pan American
Health Organization. Associated Press / Keystone / Martial Trezzini
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Caribbean L BQ ife, March 1–7, 2019 11
By Nelson A. King
The Washington, D.C.-based
Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO) says its director,
Dr. Carissa Etienne, and Belize
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
have been discussing “a variety
of priority health issues” for
Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
member-state.
PAHO said on Monday that
both parties also discussed
PAHO’s technical cooperation
during an official meeting in
Belize’s capital, Belize City.
“The importance of achieving
universal health coverage
without leaving anyone behind,
as stated by the 2030 United
Nations Agenda for Sustainable
Development, adopted in
2015 by countries of the world,
including Belize, was also discussed,”
said PAHO in a statement.
Dr. Etienne, who is also
Regional Director for the
Americas of the World Health
Organization (WHO), said “the
goal of our member states is
for all people to have access
and health coverage when and
where they need it.
“This is what we are working
towards,” she said. “PAHO
will continue to support Belize
on the path towards universal
health.
“Improving health and, particularly,
addressing the causes
of noncommunicable diseases
(NCDs), which are the leading
cause of death globally,
requires multisectoral work,”
added Etienne, stressing that
many of the risk factors fall
outside the health sector, “so
the involvement of other areas
of government and society is
essential.”
Dr. Etienne, according
to PAHO, also highlighted
cost-effective interventions
to tackle tobacco use, alcohol
abuse, physical inactivity
and unhealthy diet, including
tobacco regulation, taxes on
sugary drinks and front-ofpackage
labeling on food products
to warn the population
about high levels of salt, sugar
and fats.
Barrow acknowledged the
“dedicated” work of PAHO,
which “we are grateful for and
value very much,” according to
PAHO.
He also underscored that he
is motivated by Dr. Etienne
“to continue moving forward,”
PAHO said.
Other issues addressed during
the meeting include the
importance of achieving high
vaccination coverage against
measles and other vaccinepreventable
diseases in all
municipalities of the country;
strengthening education and
vector control actions to prevent
cases of dengue, zika and
chikungunya; and improving
the diagnosis and clinical management
of these diseases by
health personnel.
PAHO said that Etienne was
accompanied on his visit to
Belize by the PAHO Chief of
Staff, Dr. Merle Lewis, and the
PAHO Representative in Belize,
Dr. Noreen Jack.
Dr. Etienne also made a
courtesy visit to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs in Belize, Wilfred
Elrington.
During this meeting, PAHO
said they discussed, amongst
other things, a project that
seeks to transform hospitals in
Belize in order to make them
more resistant to natural disasters.
This initiative, known as the
Smart Health Facilities initiative,
is supported by PAHO and
funded by the United Kingdom
and the European Union.
Dr. Etienne and the managers
of PAHO’s departments of
Health Systems and Services;
Noncommunicable Diseases
and Mental Health; and Emergencies
also visited the Belize
city of Belmopan, where they
held a working meeting with
technical teams from the Ministry
of Health, including the
Minister of State in National
Health Insurance and Primary
Health Care, Angel Campos,
and the chief executive officer
of the Ministry of Health,
Ramón Figueroa.
Belize PM, PAHO discuss
‘priority health issues’
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