PAHO Statement on the passing of Director Emeritus, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne

(PAHO)—It’s with nice sorrow that the Pan American Well being Group (PAHO) informs of the passing of Director Emeritus Dr. Carissa F. Etienne.

Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, a local of Dominica, served as Director of PAHO and World Well being Group (WHO) Regional for the Americas from February 2013 to January 2023.

“Carissa was an expensive good friend and colleague, and beneath her steadfast management and steering, PAHO achieved vital milestones for the area of the Americas whereas dealing with one among our best public well being challenges with COVID-19,” PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa mentioned. “I’m very saddened by her passing, and my ideas are along with her household, associates and all of us at PAHO who cared deeply for her.”

Throughout Dr. Etienne’s tenure, PAHO led the response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic within the area of the Americas, in addition to efforts to manage Zika and chikungunya epidemics and cholera and yellow fever outbreaks in Haiti and Brazil, whereas considerably enhancing the Group’s response to emergencies and disasters inside 48 hours.

Beneath her management, the Americas eradicated the endemic transmission of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome, and made appreciable strides within the prevention and management of non-communicable illnesses. Legislative and regulatory mechanisms gained traction, as nations enacted laws on the labelling of meals merchandise and launched taxes on sugar-sweetened drinks.

Advances had been additionally made in strengthening nationwide well being programs and in progress towards common well being. Within the final 5 years of Dr. Etienne’s mandate, deliveries by expert beginning attendants elevated from 95% to just about 100% and, for the primary time, the Area of the Americas reached the beneficial goal of 25 physicians and nurses per 10,000 folks.

Previous to turning into PAHO Director, from March 2008 to November 2012, Dr. Etienne served as Assistant Director-Normal for Well being Methods and Providers on the World Well being Group (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Earlier than that, she served as Assistant Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau from July 2003 to February 2008, the place she led 5 technical areas: Well being Methods and Providers; Know-how, Well being Care, and Analysis; Well being Surveillance and Illness Administration; Household and Group Well being; and Sustainable Improvement and Environmental Well being.

Throughout her tenure at each WHO and PAHO, Dr. Etienne directed efforts to resume and strengthen well being programs primarily based on main well being care. She has additionally spearheaded insurance policies for decreasing well being inequalities, growing people-centered care, and integrating well being into broader public insurance policies.

“Now we have misplaced an awesome public well being champion,” Dr. Barbosa mentioned. “Dr. Etienne’s invaluable expertise can be sorely missed in international well being discussions to enhance the lives of individuals and to make sure higher preparedness for international well being emergencies.”

Dr. Etienne started her profession in her native Dominica as a medical officer on the Princess Margaret Hospital and was later appointed because the Chief Medical Officer of that nation. She has additionally served in different high-level posts in Dominica, together with as Director of Major Well being Care Providers, Coordinator of the Nationwide AIDS Program, Catastrophe Coordinator for the Ministry of Well being, and Chair of the Nationwide Advisory Council for HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Etienne acquired her medical diploma (Bachelor of Drugs and Bachelor of Surgical procedure-MBBS) from the College of the West Indies, Jamaica, and her Grasp of Science Diploma (MSc) in Group Well being in Growing Nations from the London Faculty of Hygiene and Tropical Drugs, College of London.