Bridgetown, Barbados, 29 January 2021 (PAHO) – Ministers of Health, Chief Medical Officers, Permanent Secretaries and other Health officials from Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries (ECC) including the United Kingdom Overseas Territories participated in a briefing of country specific technical cooperation activities.
The virtual event was hosted by the PAHO/WHO Representation Office for Barbados and the ECC. The PWR and his technical team presented highlights of activities accomplished in 2020 and priority work agenda for 2021, including:
- Country specific technical cooperation in the area of critical strategic preparedness, readiness and response for the public health measures of covid-19
- Progress made in the program budget and biennial programmatic areas in strengthening of health systems and services; non communicable disease and mental health; communicable diseases and environment as well as family health through the life course
- 2021 technical cooperation priorities including the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to address the pandemic in countries.
In his welcoming remarks Minister of Health, Wellness and Environment, Antigua and Barbuda, Honourable Sir. Molwyn Joseph stated, “we are in a brand-new phase in this fight against COVID-19, in recent times Antigua and Barbuda has seen a dramatic increase in the number of cases, even though the numbers are below other countries, it is not comforting because we must look at all possibilities of suppressing transmission of the virus.”
Minister Joseph also mentioned an issue he thought as important to the meeting, that of how vaccines would be distributed, in what quantities, and how soon they would be made available to Caribbean countries.
Honourable Nikolas Steele, Minister of Health and Social Security, Grenada in his remarks also focused on the topic of COVID-19 vaccines. He noted concern about countries with production capacity holding on to vaccines, stating the need for wide-spread distribution if the pandemic is to go away.
Minister Steele raised concern about the rate of distribution of vaccines and wastage, in some cases ‘dumping of vaccines’ in some nations that might adequately vaccinate the population of the Caribbean.
“We call for vaccination of health workers and older people to take place in all countries including the ECC, while we wait, there is a need to advocate and educate on physical distancing, avoiding crowds, wearing masks, hand hygiene and ventilation,” said Dr Yitades Gebre, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries.
Safe and effective vaccines will be a game changer he said, but for the foreseeable future we must continue to wear masks, physical distance and avoid crowds. At the same time there must be vaccines for all who need it in our communities.
Dr Gebre noted that in 2021 countries in the Eastern Caribbean need to strengthen health care leadership, stewardship and governance; epidemic intelligence; health systems and services delivery networks; emergency operations response and supply chain as declared in the final resolution of the PAHO directing council.
Much discussion surrounded the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. One of the main takeaways from the meeting was the need for a coordinated Caribbean regional communication campaign on promotion of the vaccines, to address the safety and effectiveness. It was noted that a two-pronged approach to the messaging was needed, to give the facts about the vaccine as well as to dilute negative messaging. Also noted was the need to coordinate with other partners as much as possible.
