PAHO Director meets Suriname’s first female President to discuss priority health issues – PAHO/WHO
New York, September 24, 2025 (PAHO) – On the banks of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), met with the newly elected president of Suriname, Dr. Jennifer Simons, to discuss the health priorities of the country and the necessary steps to improve the health system.
Dr. Barbosa congratulated Dr. Simons for her historical choice as the first woman president of Suriname, recognizing her background as a trained doctor and her long -standing leadership in the public service. The meeting took place in the permanent mission of Suriname against the United Nations in New York, where both leaders attended the current AGA.
Suriname’s health achievements were a key focus of the discussion. Dr. Simons and Dr. Barbosa celebrated the significant achievement of the country to receive the malaria free certification of the World Health Organization (WHO) in June 2025. Surinam became the first country in the Amazon region in reaching this milestone, after decades of effort to eliminate malaria in the various communities of the country and the dense rains. This achievement positions Surinam as a regional leader in the elimination of the disease.
The two leaders described the key health priorities for the future of Surinam. Dr. Simons shared her vision to transform the country’s health system with an approach to strengthening the Primary Health Care Infrastructure (PHC), expand the health workforce and improve digital health solutions, especially in rural and remote areas. A strong emphasis was made in improving data systems to guide informed decision making and the allocation of resources.
Additional priorities discussed included the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases (EV), promote mental health and behavior and implement healthy school initiatives.
«Paho is a commitment to support Surinam to achieve these national health priorities and advance in the health and well -being of all southwies,» said Dr. Barbosa.
