Crime and violence as a public well being subject, regional well being safety, human assets for well being, illness surveillance, and issues pertaining to the Port-of-Spain Declaration on Non-communicable Illnesses (NCDs) had been among the many precedence points mentioned on the Assembly of Officers preparatory to the forty seventh Assembly of the Council for Human and Social Improvement (COHSOD) – Well being, held nearly on Sept. 11.
The Assembly was convened below the chairmanship of Dr. Andy St. Hilaire, Officer-in- Cost, Workplace of the Chief Medical Officer, Dominica. Chief Medical Officers, nationwide well being officers and representatives from regional establishments and our bodies, together with the Caribbean Public Well being Company (CARPHA), the Caribbean Catastrophe Emergency Administration Company (CDEMA), the Human Sources for Well being Caribbean Fee and the Regional Nursing Physique, had been in attendance. Regional and worldwide companions, the International Fund and Pan American Well being Group (PAHO)/World Well being Organisation (WHO), additionally participated.
Shows had been made on the Area’s epidemiological traits, particularly how these will have an effect on coverage, and the attainable approaches to remove communicable illnesses. Discussions additionally centered on strengthening the Area’s well being techniques and boosting its human assets for well being capability. Of particular significance was the presentation of the coverage temporary on the migration of healthcare employees within the Caribbean, for consideration by well being sector growth stakeholders.
Delivering opening remarks, Tamara Bobb, Programme Supervisor of Well being Sector Improvement on the CARICOM Secretariat, underscored the impression of Hurricane Beryl on CARICOM Member States. She referred to the devastation in Grenada and, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the numerous setbacks to the respective well being techniques. “Occasions similar to these are solely anticipated to accentuate as a result of results of local weather change,” said Bobb.
The Programme Supervisor highlighted a rise within the incidence of endemic infectious illnesses, together with Dengue and Malaria. As well as, she famous that Member States have been suggested to stay vigilant to the specter of Mpox, which was declared a public well being emergency of worldwide concern by the WHO in August 2024.
“NCDs proceed to be among the many main causes of mortality and morbidity within the Caribbean,” said Bobb, “Roughly 76 per cent of all deaths within the Area are attributable to NCDs.” She additionally suggested that the incidence of crime and violence has elevated within the Area, resulting in its declaration by Heads of Authorities as a public well being subject in 2023.
Concerning the Area’s illustration inside worldwide fora, the Programme Supervisor emphasised that the CARICOM Secretariat stays dedicated to making sure that Member States’ particular wants are expressed and that the Group continues to make priceless contributions to setting the worldwide well being agenda. She invited the Assembly to think about the event of key worldwide partnerships and the implications of the Amendments to the Worldwide Well being Rules that had been not too long ago handed within the Seventh-Seventh World Well being Meeting.
This Assembly was essential to the continued management and strategic path of the Area’s well being sector growth as crucial stakeholders put together for the 4tth COHSOD – Well being, which might be held 27-28 September 2024 in Washington DC, United States of America.
