PORT OF SPAIN: JANUARY 16TH 2024
On January 12th, 2024, Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, received an introductory courtesy call with Dr. Gabriel Vivas Francesconi, the new Country Representative for the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) to Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, during which he presented his Letters of Credence signed by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization; and Dr. Jarbas Barbosa Da Silva Jr., Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau.
Minister Browne warmly welcomed Dr. Vivas and assured that Trinidad and Tobago looks forward to continuing its robust and productive relationship with PAHO/WHO. Dr. Vivas commended Trinidad and Tobago for its critical role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and for championing vaccine equity on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Dr. Vivas also took the opportunity to reiterate PAHO’s commitment to collaborate and support Trinidad and Tobago’s health services and priorities. The areas that were identified for assistance were addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), strengthening the capacity for universal health coverage, improving primary health care, raising awareness on the importance of mental health services and promoting destigmatization, improving capacity building and strengthening of national laboratories.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue working together to advance the strategic collaborative ties between Trinidad and Tobago and the PAHO Country Office.
