Wednesday, July 30, 2025
In a significant milestone for regional health cooperation, Dr. Gabriel Vivas Francesconi, PAHO/WHO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch Caribbean, has visited all six Dutch Caribbean islands, marking a pivotal step in deepening PAHO/WHO’s technical cooperation and reaffirming its commitment to equitable health development across the region. His visits to Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Aruba highlight the importance of building bridges between PAHO/WHO and each island, emphasizing a shared vision for resilience, equity, and innovation in public health. These visits focus on reviewing the 2025 Biennial Work Plan, exploring multi-country strategies for technical cooperation in Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius, and strengthening ties with the Dutch Ministry of Health and Public Health Agency, particularly in mental health, substance use, and climate resilience. The PAHO/WHO TTO team also engaged in high-level discussions with government officials, public health leaders, and healthcare providers in Saba and Sint Eustatius, highlighting the importance of service delivery, referral systems, and infrastructure development. In Aruba, the delegation met with newly elected officials, including The Honorable Dr. Melvin Wyatt-Ras, Minister of Public Health, Social Affairs, Elderly Care and Addiction Management, and the Minister of Kingdom Relations, Education, Youth Innovation and Sports, focusing on finalizing the Country Cooperation Strategy and discussing mental health in schools, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and health and sports. The visit in Aruba also builds on the October 2024 National Stakeholder Consultation, which brought together government departments, UN agencies, and civil society to shape Aruba’s CCS for 2025–2030. Additionally, Dr. Vivas’ earlier visit to Bonaire in September 2024 laid groundwork for the Dutch Caribbean’s Transition Plan for a “Healthy Bonaire,” focusing on healthy life, healthy living environment, and health protection.
Reference: PAHO and the Dutch Caribbean - Forward TogetherLabels: PAHO
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