Washington, DC, 26 September 2017 (PAHO/WHO) - Jamaica's Minister of Health, Christopher Tufton, and the Director of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Carissa F. Etienne, today signed a new strategy for technical cooperation in health up to the year 2022.

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"This strategy represents our commitment to continue and to enhance PAHO/WHO's cooperation with Jamaica and our common goal of improving the health of the population," Etienne said in signing the document during a recess of the 29th Pan American Sanitary Conference, which runs until Friday in Washington, D.C.

The 2017-2022 Cooperation Strategy will seek, among other things, to strengthen Jamaica's health system and advance toward universal health, address the challenges posed by new and emerging diseases, reduce noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors, and address the impact of violence and injuries, and increase the capacity of the health sector to respond to the effects of climate change.

Tufton thanked PAHO for its continued support on a range of health issues, in particular strengthening of the health systems. He said his country hoped to continue the joint collaboration.

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The Country Cooperation Strategy is based on four strategic priorities: strengthening the resilience of health systems within the framework of universal health; addressing the health needs of the population using an inclusive life-course approach, addressing the social and economic determinants of health and promoting sustainable development using an integrated approach; and building resilient communities by addressing the environmental determinants of health.

The strategy is aligned with Jamaica's national health priorities and was developed collaboratively by PAHO, national authorities and other stakeholders. It also takes into account PAHO's Strategic Plan 2014-2019, the National Development Plan -Vision 2030, the United Nations Multi-country Sustainable Development Framework for the Caribbean 2017-2030 and the Caribbean Cooperation in Health.

PAHO is committed to ensuring that all people have access to the health care they need, when they need it, with quality and without fear of falling into poverty. The organization will continue to work and collaborate with other UN agencies and partners in Jamaica to achieve universal health and the Sustainable Development Goals.