OECS, PAHO launch projects to improve lives in the sub-region

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched two major Cooperation among Countries for Health Development (CCHD) projects focusing on disease elimination and better care for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The projects emanate from the PAHO Director’s flagship initiatives on Disease Elimination and Better Care for NCDs  and the PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean countries, Dr. Amalia Del Riego, said  the collaboration is “a symbolic celebration of renewed partnerships in collaboration with the OECS.

“This is about passion, leadership, and the willingness to unite and come together for the good of the people, hence the theme for the implementation of the projects: ‘United to Advance Health and Wellness’, while strengthening collaboration between the OECS and PAHO,” she said, providing a brief background to the two PAHO funded projects.

Chair of the OECS Council of Ministers of Health, Cassanni Laville, of Dominica pledged to continue strengthening health systems across the OECS region.

“One of the things we must look at is to foster innovation wherever possible and to collaborate. This is the spirit in which we are here to foster that spirit of collaboration, build synergies, and leverage upon what is already working for us.

“When I consider what we are all about, generally it is the same thing: a better livelihood for our people, equitable access, better quality of health, and improved health care outcomes,”  she added.

The disease elimination component of the project is aimed at eliminating diseases and conditions that continue to affect the nine-member sub-regional grouping, while the better care for NCDs, will  focus on improving care for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, which are leading causes of mortality.

Both projects aim to foster sustainable development through stronger primary health care-based health systems, collaboration among countries, and the promotion of inclusive and integrated healthcare strategies across the region.

ROSEAU, Dominica Oct 18, CMC

The post OECS, PAHO launch projects to improve lives in the sub-region first appeared on CNC3.