THE OECS Commission recently held a special meeting of key decision makers in the health sector.
The meeting, via video-conference, brought Ministers for Health together, to discuss the status of member states on Ebola and other health matters, the region’s readiness regarding compliance with International Health Regulations (IHR), and plans for the participation of OECS member states in the World Health Assembly in Geneva, in May.
The meeting emphasized the importance of every member state of the OECS being in Geneva. The Commission also offered to examine the possibility of vote by proxy, should any OECS member state be unable to attend.
The session, chaired by Director General Dr. Didacus Jules, also discussed an OECS template for the self-assessment of their health facilities and services, towards rationalizing the region’s health sector. The idea is to establish and promote the OECS as the world’s best region for rehabilitation and recovery through centers of excellence in health services.
The ministers present pledged their support for plans put forward by the OECS Commission to enhance the region’s health facilities and services through functional cooperation. Among the plans, is a fact-finding multi-faceted meeting in Martinique to discuss bilateral or multilateral cooperation in health services involving various stakeholders across the sector, regional cooperation, functional collaboration and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Martinique has already pledged its support in hosting the meeting.
This is the second of virtual meetings held with OECS health ministers through the OECS Commission’s weekly online forum. The forum assesses the region’s capacity to prepare for and respond to major developments in the health sector.
Follow-up ministerial meetings are expected to take place on a quarterly basis.