Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Health Elected President of Pan-American Health Organization Executive Council

WASHINGTON, DC – Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Health, the Hon. John Maginley, attained the highest executive position within the Pan-American Health Organization through his election to the position of President of the Executive Committee.

The election, held in Washington D.C. at the PAHO Headquarters during the One Hundred and Forty First Executive Meeting was enthusiastically supported by all members of the committee.

Minister Maginley, who previously occupied the position of Vice President, thanked his colleagues on behalf of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Baldwin Spencer, for entrusting the small island state of Antigua and Barbuda with the responsibility of steering the work of the hemispheric organization during the course of the next twelve months.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Health, the Hon. John Maginley

Later, Minister Maginley said that “the election to the Presidency was indeed historic for Antigua and Barbuda and was recognition not only of the positive role played by our country within the PAHO family but it is testimony to the confidence bestowed upon our island state by all the countries of the Americas to advance the health agenda of the Hemisphere.”

Commenting on the election of Minister Maginley, Ambassador Deborah-Mae Lovell, Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the OAS said that she was elated at the elevation of her country within this regional organization and that this was yet another example of Antigua and Barbuda leaving its footprint on the policy agenda of the hemisphere.

She said the she looks forward to assisting the minister in his new position.

The other executive positions were filled by the members from Uruguay and Panama who have assumed the roles of Vice President and Rapporteur respectively.