Article Image Alt Text

Dr Godfrey Xuereb, PAHO/WHO Representative to Barbados and ECC (right) speaking with Dr. Pablo Duran, Regional Advisor in Perinatal Health PAHO/WHO.

Region praised for public health success

The Caribbean, especially the Eastern Caribbean, is one of the first regions in the world to be certified as having eliminated Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Congenital Syphilis.

This is a great public health achievement, according to Dr. Godfrey Xuereb, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative to Barbados and Eastern Caribbean.

“Not just because of the elimination certification, but because 20 years ago the Caribbean was being classified as having the second highest global rate of HIV and especially transmission of HIV from mother to child,” he pointed out.

“To know that every child being born in most countries in the Eastern Caribbean has a very low risk of being infested with HIV or congenital syphilis, knowing that every woman that is pregnant is being screened and being treated, if found positive, is great public health gain.”

Dr. Xuereb’s comments came during the opening of the World Paediatric Project (WPP) conference, being held in partnership with PAHO and Rotary International. The conference, themed “Improving Perinatal Care in Barbados & the Eastern Caribbean: Planning and Implementing a Regional Approach to Prevention, Services, Interventions and Policies”, got under way at Radisson Aquatica Resort yesterday.

Executive Director Eastern Caribbean at WPP, Lauren McIntosh, informed participants that the non-profit organisation has served over 6 000 children regionally and provided over US$58 million in services to the Eastern Caribbean since 2002.

Moreover, while commending the great strides and progress that have been made in the region in neonatal care over the years, as seen by the reduction in maternal and child deaths, she stressed that there is still much more work to be done.

“As a region, we face common challenges and when we pool together our limited resources, we can find a framework that allows us to achieve our common objectives and giving our neonates the best healthcare possible,” she expressed, adding that WPP is committed to reducing perinatal morality and morbidity through innovative technologies and care techniques, continual monitoring and evaluation, and a regional approach to sharing medical resources and expertise.

President of Rotary Club of Barbados West, Mr. Morton Holder, said that the service organisation is honoured to be part of this first ever regional conference on advanced neonatal care.

“Rotary strives on the notion of ‘Serve Above Self’, and we can see no greater service than offering advanced care to the new life being brought into this world.”

On becoming aware of the work of WPP, Rotary initiated a Global Grant which raised US$93 000. “These funds have been spread throughout the entire project…Rotary Club of Barbados West recognises this special area as one which will be beneficial to all doctors and by extension the members of the public, who will benefit from the said doctors,” he added.
(TL)

Barbados Advocate

Mailing Address:
Advocate Publishers (2000) Inc
Fontabelle, St. Michael, Barbados

Phone: (246) 467-2000
Fax: (246) 434-2020 / (246) 434-1000