Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – July 30, 2025, (PAHO/WHO) - In a significant milestone for regional health cooperation, Dr. Gabriel Vivas Francesconi, PAHO/WHO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch Caribbean, has now officially visited all six Dutch Caribbean islands: Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.
His recent missions to Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Aruba marked a pivotal step in deepening PAHO/WHO’s technical cooperation and reaffirming its commitment to equitable health development across the region.
These visits are more than ceremonial milestones, they represent a strategic shift toward inclusive, tailored, and sustained health partnerships. Dr. Vivas’ presence on each island underscores PAHO/WHO’s dedication to understanding local contexts, building trust with national and municipal leaders, and co-creating solutions that address both current challenges and future health priorities.
“This is about building bridges between PAHO/WHO and each island, and with the broader Caribbean and Dutch health systems,” said Dr. Vivas. “Each visit is a step toward a more connected and collaborative regional health network where knowledge, resources, and strategies flow more freely. We are not only supporting individual island priorities but also fostering a shared vision for resilience, equity, and innovation in public health across the Dutch Caribbean.”
In Saba and Sint Eustatius, the PAHO/WHO TTO team engaged in high-level discussions with government officials, public health leaders, and healthcare providers. These meetings focused on reviewing the 2025 Biennial Work Plan (BWP), exploring the development of a multi-country strategy for technical cooperation for Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius, and strengthening ties with the Dutch Ministry of Health and Public Health Agency, particularly in areas like mental health, substance use, and climate resilience.
The visits also included tours of key healthcare facilities, such as the Saba Cares Clinic and the Sint Eustatius Medical Center, where discussions centered on service delivery, referral systems, and infrastructure development.
“These islands may be small in size, but their health systems are vital lifelines. Our goal is to ensure they are resilient, responsive, and well-supported,” said Ms. Nicola Taylor, Program Management Specialist for the PAHO/WHO Trinidad and Tobago Country Office.
In Aruba, the PAHO/WHO 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, The Honourable Gerlien Croes. These engagements focused on finalizing the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS), discussing mental health in schools, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and the intersection of health and sports, as well as exploring climate and aging-related health strategies.
This visit built on the momentum of the October 2024 National Stakeholder Consultation, where PAHO/WHO facilitated a dynamic, inclusive process to shape Aruba’s CCS for 2025–2030. That consultation brought together government departments, UN agencies, and civil society to shape a strategic agenda focused on universal health coverage, NCD prevention, and a Health in All Policies approach.
Dr. Vivas’ earlier visit to Bonaire in September 2024 also laid important groundwork in the Dutch Caribbean. There, PAHO and local authorities discussed the island’s ambitious Transition Plan for a “Healthy Bonaire,” built on three pillars: healthy life, healthy living environment, and health protection.
In St Maarten work continues in the area of health resilience with the recent completion of two intensive training workshops on the island.
Curaçao's community mental health services received substantial support from PAHO/WHO, through the implementation of the Mental Health Gap Action (mhGAP) program, a unique collaborative forum for primary care mental health providers from both the public and private sectors.
Looking ahead, PAHO/WHO is focused on several strategic actions. These include advancing the multi-country strategy for Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius, and expanding work in climate and health, mental health, and community-based prevention. Dutch Caribbean participation in the upcoming PAHO Directing Council in September 2025 is also being strongly encouraged.
