The new Country Representative for PAHO/WHO has pledged to continue the great working relationship his organisation has established with Trinidad and Tobago, a statement from the Ministry of Health has reported.
Dr Gabriel Vivas-Francesconi, the newly installed Country Representative for the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), met on Wednesday (December 13, 2023) with Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh MP, and a team of senior officials from the Ministry.
During the visit, Minister Deyalsingh conveyed his anticipation of a close working relationship with Dr Vivas-Francesconi. He also took the opportunity to apprise the new PAHO/WHO Country Representative of the Ministry’s key strategic priorities.
From L to R Stephen Boodram, Deputy Permanent Secretary, MoH; Dr Roshan Parasram, Chief Medical Officer; Dr Michelle Harris, Advisor, Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, PAHO; Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh MP; Dr Gabriel Vivas-Francesconi, PAHO/WHO Country Representative; Lorraine Thompson, Country Programme Advisor, Office of the Director, PAHO/WHO; Asif Ali, Permanent Secretary, MoH; Anita Sohan, Director, International Cooperation Desk, MoH. [Image courtesy Ministry of Health]
The Health Minister highlighted the Ministry’s initiatives towards reducing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs); meeting the UN 95-95-95 Strategic Goals for HIV and AIDS; the decentralization of Mental Health Services; and the conversion of the local blood donation system to one that is 100 percent voluntary.
For his part, Dr Vivas-Francesconi expressed his interest in working along with the Minister and the Ministry’s team in alignment with the work of PAHO/WHO and the policy priorities of the Ministry.
Dr Vivas-Francesconi previously served in Barbados, Brazil and The Bahamas.