Dominica will play a major role in the region’s approach to the 68th Meeting of the World Health Assembly later this month.
Dominica’s Hon. Health minister, Dr. Kenneth Darroux along with OECS Health Ministers and their technical advisors recently attended a meeting in Barbados.
At that meeting, it was determined that Dominica would prepare the OECS joint statement on the International Health Regulations.
The IHR is a national legal framework to work against the spread of health threats in the world.
Along with promoting health security, it also aids in minimizing the impact of health threats and outbreaks on trade and travel.
Just last year, Dominica was recognised as being way ahead in its implementation of the World Health Organisation’s IHR.
This is why the island will represent the OECS at the international level.
“We speak of global health security; the issue of something happening in one country affecting us in Dominica. A typical example is the pandemic flu or Ebola,” began Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Johnson.
“Therefore, we have certain obligations since we signed on the International Health Regulations in 2007 to put things in place to address those diseases when they occur. The region has challenges to build those facilities so we need to make our voices heard at those meetings,” he said.
According to the Chief Medical Officer, to effect the changes that small island nations need, they must take their seats at the international table.
This time, the region will be heard as one when the OECS presents joint statements on chronic non-communicable diseases and the need for the private sector to contribute to its management, and the relationship between climate change and health- specifically air pollution.
The OECS region will also make its appeal for increased support of a PAHO fund for vaccination.
“We in the region are benefitting from the PAHO Revolving Fund for Vaccine Procurement. In Dominica, we have a number of vaccines under the Expanded Immunization Programme which we offer at no direct cost to children 0-12 years old. However, PAHO procures these vaccines at very concessionary prices which they negotiate with the manufacturers.
“There are some challenges related to protecting that fund so the region recognising the importance of avoiding vaccine-preventable diseases will be making a strong statement at the World Health Assembly Meeting to assist PAHO in order to ensure that we can continue to procure those vaccines at concessionary prices,” he explained.
The meeting of Health Ministers in Barbados has also resulted in a decision for regional cohesiveness.
Hon. Dr. Kenneth Darroux elaborated, “We felt the need for stronger cooperation in the sub-region. I think sometimes we attend these international conferences fragmented. But if we look at some of the other Small Island Developing States, they come well-prepared; they have a number of preparatory meetings leading up to the international conferences so when they come, they are unified.”
He quoted the old adage, “There’s strength in numbers.”
The 68th Meeting of the World Health Assembly will bring together representatives of 192 countries in Geneva, Switzerland from May 18th.
Since when have these meetings produced some positive action that benefits DA’can’s? I am so tired of this B.S. Just more men going to meetings at tax payer expense.
Bad timing GIS. You issue this release on the same day that Dr. Grell is calling for more financial help to save lives after an accident. No amount of boasting or grandstanding is going to help address that precarious situation we are in. Dr. Grell is polite but between the lines I get the message that people are dying unnecessarily. Please Dr. Darroux, solve that situation first before allowing the Govt. information service to boast about Dominica’s mayor role on behalf of the OECS at the WHO. It is embarrassing to say the least.
Malgraysa ! Your partner ,Jaime Astaphan would agree whole heartedly.
They can attend all the meetings they want , it means nothing when we have no healthcare in Dominica and we have a hospital infested with Penez and Poopool –