Kingston, May 9, 2024 (PAHO) – The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, concluded this week a visit to Jamaica marked by a series of engagements with senior government officials and international partners. The PAHO Director also attended the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis (EMTCT) certification ceremony for Jamaica, Belize, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as the certification ceremony for a HIV-friendly hospital. child.
During the EMTCT ceremony, the Director congratulated the three countries on the public health milestone, noting that «this achievement is a testament to years of dedication, hard work and collaboration between governments, health professionals and communities.» He expressed his hope that the celebration would inspire other countries to revitalize their commitments toward a generation free of HIV and congenital syphilis. Ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis is one of the goals of PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative.
The Director traveled to the north of the island for the certification of St. Ann’s Bay Hospital as a baby-friendly hospital and was accompanied by the Minister of Health and Wellbeing, Dr. Christopher Tufton, and Ms. Olga Isaza, Jamaica’s representative for Unicef . The UNICEF and WHO Baby Friendly Hospital certification was developed to encourage healthcare facilities around the world to better support breastfeeding.
In his remarks, Dr. Barbosa highlighted the benefits of breastfeeding as a vital tool for child health and development to help all children reach their full potential. He also reinforced PAHO’s commitment to supporting Jamaica’s efforts to develop the necessary legislation so that the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes can be monitored for violations.
Dr. Barbosa’s trip also included a courtesy visit with Dr. Horace Chang, Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica. Discussions focused on cross-collaboration between different government ministries and strengthening priority areas of focus in the context of Jamaica’s Health in All Policies, where multiple ministries are required to ensure effective health-related advancements.
The Director of PAHO also met with Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Welfare, to explore ways to support and collaborate with the health system. The Director subsequently attended Minister Tufton’s sectoral debate at Gordon House, which highlighted the Ministry’s achievements over the last financial year and outlined plans and programs for approval by the Government House.
Other engagements included discussions with representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), focusing on primary health care reform and the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Collaboration with international partners was emphasized in meetings with representatives of USAID and the Canadian High Commission in Jamaica. These discussions focused on current health initiatives.
Additionally, the visit included a meeting with Mr. Dennis Zulu, United Nations Resident Coordinator, and Ms. Christine Stegling, Deputy Executive Director of the Policy, Advocacy and Knowledge Branch of UNAIDS, to discuss the Multinational Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development for English countries. and the Dutch-speaking Caribbean. During this meeting, Dr. Barbosa reaffirmed PAHO’s commitment to helping achieve the 2030 agenda.
On his first visit to the Jamaica office, Dr. Barbosa met with staff and participated in conversations in which he reaffirmed his commitment to supporting all staff. The visit allowed him to obtain valuable information from the technical advisors who gave him a brief overview of his areas.
Dr. Barbosa concluded his visit by attending the premiere of the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s documentary ‘Dying Young’, which addresses the pressing issue of non-communicable diseases in Jamaica. In a panel discussion following the premiere, Dr. Barbosa praised the Ministry of Health for making the issue of NCDs a priority and reaffirmed PAHO’s commitment to improving population health outcomes by supporting initiatives aimed at NCDs.
