PAHO/WHO Sub-regional Cooperation Strategy: Caribbean 2010-2015

ABSTRACT

[Foreword]. The PAHO/WHO Sub-regional Strategy is very timely as the Caribbean is poised in undertaking significant changes in shaping its readiness and institutional capacity to respond to new global and regional public health challenges affecting its people. These challenges include the need to address the public health implications of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) with its free movement of people, food and agricultural products, and harmonization of laws and standards. In addition, the Caribbean is in the process of enhancing its capacity to respond in the changing public health environment with the establishment of the two new Public health entities in the Caribbean namely, the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) which will rationalize the functions of the existing Regional Health Institutions...The PAHO/WHO Sub-regional Cooperation Strategy recognizes these significant public health changes in the Caribbean and clearly defines how PAHO/WHO will ensure that its technical cooperation is responsive and supportive to the Caribbean sub-region in this changing environment. The strategy defines the priorities with which PAHO will work including addressing the agenda of the CCH3 but also the Global and PAHO/WHO Strategic Agenda, the mechanisms of cooperation and the PAHO/WHO entities in charge of leading in the implementation at the sub-regional level over the period 2010 - 2015. The strategy defines the added value of the sub-regional cooperation with its guiding principles of Health equity, reduction in disparities and asymmetries among countries; capacity building and supporting national sub-regional challenges; addressing the determinants of health; optimizing resources and capacities, achieving complementarities; promoting solidarity; focus on economies of scale and shared services and promoting connectivity through e-health.