KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has ended a visit to Jamaica following a series of engagements with senior government officials and international partners.
The PAHO Director also attended the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis (EMTCT) certification ceremony for Jamaica, Belize, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, as well as the certification ceremony of a baby-friendly hospital.
During the EMTCT ceremony, Dr.Barbosa congratulated all three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries for the public health milestone, noting that “this achievement is a testament to years of dedication, hard work, and collaboration among governments, health professionals, and communities.”
He expressed hope that the celebration would inspire other countries to reinvigorate their commitments towards a generation free of HIV and congenital syphilis. Putting an end to mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis is one of the objectives of PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative.
The PAHo director also attended the certification of St. Ann’s Bay Hospital as a baby-friendly hospital, where the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, and Ms. Olga Isaza, the Jamaica representative for UNICEF, were present.
The UNICEF and WHO Baby-Friendly Hospital certification was developed to encourage health facilities worldwide to better support breastfeeding.
In his remarks, Dr. Barbosa outlined the benefits of breastfeeding as a vital tool for infant health and development, helping all children achieve their full potential. He also reinforced PAHO’s commitment to supporting Jamaica’s efforts to develop the necessary legislation so that the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes can be monitored for infractions.
Dr. Barbosa’s trip also included a courtesy call on National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang. The discussions focused on cross-collaboration among different government ministries and the reinforcement of priority areas for attention in the context of Jamaica’s Health In All Policies, in which multiple ministries are required to ensure effective health-related advances.
The discussions with Dr. Tufton explored avenues for health system support and collaboration.
Further engagements included discussions with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) representatives, focusing on primary healthcare reform and non-communicable disease prevention. Collaboration with international partners was emphasized in meetings with representatives from USAID and the High Commission of Canada in Jamaica. These discussions centered on current healthcare initiatives.
Additionally, the visit included a meeting with Dennis Zulu, UN Resident Coordinator, and Ms. Christine Stegling, Deputy Executive Director, Policy, Advocacy and Knowledge Branch, UNAIDS, to discuss the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.
During this meeting, Dr. Barbosa reaffirmed PAHO’s commitment to helping achieve the 2030 agenda.
Dr. Barbosa ended his visit by attending the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Dying Young’ docu-feature premiere, addressing the pressing issue of non-communicable diseases in Jamaica.
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