BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 23rd 2011 (CUOPM) - The Caribbean has to move, and move with purpose, to get both communicable and non-communicable diseases under control.
This was stated Wednesday by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister and Lead spokesman on Health for the Caribbean Community, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas at his monthly Pres Conference on Wednesday.
“A physically and mentally sound populace is key to any a country’s development prospects. This is why, as both a physician and an elected official, the establishment of a Caribbean Regional Public Health Agency (CARPHA) remains one of my utmost priorities,” said Dr. Douglas, who was in Washington last week to address representatives of France, Canada, the United Kingdom, the US, and some thirty-odd other international partners, on the importance of CARPHA, which CARICOM will legally establish next month.
Dr. Douglas said CARPHA is absolutely essential, since this institution will make the pooling of resources, the securing of efficiencies, and other benefits associated with economies of scale, possible.
“And all of this will dramatically improve every CARICOM nation’s ability to deliver an improved health care product to their respective populaces,” Dr. Douglas told reporters.
He said his main message in Washington was that partnership between CARICOM and the international community vis-à-vis CARPHA is key.
“CARPHA reflects our understanding of the importance of expanded laboratory facilities, enhanced health-related intelligence capabilities, heightened research and development wherewithal and an expanded corps of Caribbean health-care practitioners,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He added that the reception to both the vision, as well as the emphasis on partnership, was positively received in Washington.
“Here in the Caribbean, partnership between the region’s public and private sectors will be equally important – as will public education on matters pertaining to public health. And this is an area in which, you, as members of the media, can prove to be great national assets in getting key and timely messages out,” said Dr. Douglas.
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