WASHINGTON, DC – When the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Caucus of Health Ministers convened in Washington this past weekend (September 29-30, 2007), they are expected to receive and review among other things, the recommendations and follow-up actions emanating from the landmark CARICOM Summit on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), held in Trinidad and Tobago on September 15 2007, and advise on how to proceed on the actions to be implemented.
The Sixteenth Meeting of the Caucus of CARICOM Ministers Responsible for Health will be held at the Headquarters of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Washington, D.C. to treat with a packed agenda, which includes the development of a regional mental health strategy; the process of implementation of Phase III of the Caribbean Cooperation in Health Initiative (CCH III); strengthening and capacity building of Regional Health Institutions (RHIs); leadership training in public health and progress in the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS.
PAHO is expected to make a presentation on the development of a regional mental health strategy which should incorporate strands such as appropriate mental health policy and legislation; adequate mental health facilities and community services; mental health promotion programs and adequate information systems, as well as human resource development and collaboration among regional institutions to transfer knowledge, disseminate information and promote the development of national mental health programs.
The Caucus is also expected to continue deliberations and make decisions on the proposed merger of the five Regional Health Institutions into a new Caribbean Public Health Agency. This integrated model of governance for the RHIs was recommended by the Eleventh Special COHSOD on Health at their meeting in June, as the most expedient governance arrangement for the RHIs.
Under this agreement all five RHIs – the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), the Caribbean Environment Health Institute (CEHI), the Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC), the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI), and the Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (CRDTL) – would function under the umbrella of one legal entity with an overall strategic plan, one management structure and one overall resource mobilization plan.
Also among the raft of issues on the Meeting’s agenda will be decisions on the way forward with the alignment of the core functions of the Regional Health Institutions with the eight agreed priority areas for CCH III. These priority areas include chronic diseases, mental health, communicable diseases, family and community health and food and nutrition.
In addition, Health Ministers will discuss the financing of a strengthened CCH III Secretariat.
The strengthening of leadership training in public health will also come up for deliberations at the Caucus. Health Ministers will be expected to discuss and endorse the plan of action for the provision of high level training in leadership and management in the Caribbean health sector.
This is in an effort to create a larger cadre of competent, confident and committed Caribbean leaders and managers in Health.
The Sixteenth Meeting of the Caucus of CARICOM Health Ministers ended on Sunday, September 30 following discussions and subsequent actions on the progress report from the Caribbean Association of Medical Councils as well as the report on National Consultations for Enacting Domestic Regulations for the Provision of Health Services in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
