Jamaica to lead PAHO Directing Council meeting

Our Ministry of Health and Wellness team, headed by Minister Christopher Tufton, has been selected to head an important meeting of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a branch of the World Health Organization. This is impressive (but, I suspect, a lot more work for Minister Tufton & Co., as if they didn’t have enough already!)

“Grateful for this team!” tweeted Minister Tufton (at right in this photo) recently. At left is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Dunstan Bryan alongside Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jacqueline Bisesor-McKenzie.

Now, they are on their way to the mostly virtual three-day meeting in Washington, DC. Of course, the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic will be top of the agenda. A live stream of the meeting from September 20 – 24 can be viewed here. Here is the Ministry’s press release:

Minister Tufton tweeted this photo of himself and two members of his team, including Chief Medical Officer Jacquiline Bisesor-McKenzie (foreground) waiting for their connection at Miami Airport. Minister Tufton always has high praises for his team as they continue to tackle Jamaica’s “third wave” of COVID-19.

Jamaica to lead PAHO Directing Council Meeting

KINGSTON, Jamaica. Friday, September 17, 2021: Jamaica’s Health & Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, MP has been selected to serve as president of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Directing Council Meeting and will lead the 59^th meeting of the 35 PAHO Member States. This meeting is timely and of great significance as countries around the world continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and reinforce the resilience of their healthcare systems.

The Council will meet in Washington, DC from September 20-24, 2021 to consider matters including, a roadmap for the digital transformation of health sector in the region of the Americas; a comprehensive approach for addressing health threats at the human-animal-environment interface; and reinvigorating immunization as a public good for universal health.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie will also travel to Washington, DC with Dr. Tufton, while the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dunstan Bryan and other senior officials of the Health & Wellness Ministry join the session virtually. Additionally, Jamaica is expected to vie for a position on the executive committee to serve for the 2021-2024 term.

The PAHO Directing Council is responsible for setting the organization’s policies and priorities for technical cooperation as well as discussing matters of public health significance and agreeing on the way forward for the region.