Washington, D.C., March 6, 2025 – The Permanent Mission of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the Organization of American States (OAS) engaged in a productive meeting with Dr. Miguel Burnier, Legal Counsel at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to discuss opportunities for collaboration in advancing the country’s health priorities.
During the discussions, Her Excellency Jacinth Henry-Martin, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to OAS reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to working closely with PAHO to enhance health initiatives. She emphasized the importance of regular updates and effective coordination between PAHO, the Ministry of Health, and the Permanent Mission to ensure the seamless exchange of critical information.
Dr. Burnier provided an overview of PAHO’s regional presence, noting that the Barbados office covers multiple member states, with designated representatives stationed in each country. Acknowledging the need for improved communication, he pledged to work with PAHO’s Country Office to strengthen coordination with national health ministries.
A key focus of the discussions was the need for greater PAHO engagement on pressing health issues affecting OAS member states, such as mental health, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Cancer and other critical health concerns, food security, nutrition, and the intersection of health, drug use, and criminal activity.
Highlighting Saint Kitts and Nevis’ commitment to a public health approach to crime and violence, Ambassador Henry-Martin emphasized that Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, has been a strong advocate for addressing crime through the lens of mental health and public health strategies. In support of this initiative, Counsellor Shanelle Simmonds announced that the CARICOM Caucus will host a special meeting on May 1, 2025, titled “A Public Health Approach to Crime and Violence: The Way Forward”, and invited PAHO’s expertise in shaping this initiative through collaboration and participation.
Ambassador Henry-Martin expressed appreciation for PAHO’s ongoing efforts and underscored the importance of strengthening partnerships to address critical health challenges.
The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis remains committed to advancing health policies that benefit its citizens and looks forward to continued collaboration with PAHO to achieve this goal.
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