Sustainable Health Agenda meeting underway
Barbados like many other countries grapples with a public health contextual framework of new commitments, both at a regional and global level, changing disease profiles, competing priorities and scarce resources.
This was the assessment of Minister of Health, John Boyce while speaking on the occasion of the third face-to-face meeting of the Country Working Group on the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas (SHAA) 2018-2030 held recently at Courtyard Marriott.
He explained, “The objectives of our deliberations over the next three days will be to solicit your input, views and expert opinions in the finalization of the draft SHAA document for approval.”
“It is indeed a pleasure for Barbados to host this third face-to-face meeting of the Country Working Group for the Sustainable Health Agenda 2018-2030. This draft document represents our shared vision for health and well-being of the countries of the Americas and appropriately responds and complements our global, sub-regional and national heath mandates which aim to achieve sustainable health development.”
Barbados has had the privilege to serve as vice chair of this Working Group along with Panama, all under the able chairmanship of the Vice Minister of Ecuador. Our countries have ensured that both public health management and planning perspectives have been reflected through the representatives who participated in the development process of the SHAA.
“I must commend the Member States of this Country Working Group as well as the Secretariat for your continued commitment and dedication to this process. I wish to give you every assurance of my Ministry’s continued support to such an important exercise, through the delegation which will attend this meeting and in the support which Barbados will lend in the run up to the launch in September.”
He recounted, “The process thus far has been an interactive and dynamic one, enhanced by two face-to-face meetings in Panama and Ecuador respectively, five virtual sessions and a platform for country reviews of the draft document.”
As such, a tremendous volume of work has been undertaken to ensure that our country realities have been adequately represented in this context.
“The SHAA I have reviewed offers us a prime opportunity to position our countries to achieve the optimal provision of quality health care through collective action in the true spirit of Pan American solidarity.”
“This draft SHAA is well written and comprehensive, with very ambitious goals. It sets the tone for public health work and seeks to correct disparities within and between our countries. It sets the goal of creating an environment for the development of regional public goods and will therefore drive the type of sustainable development that Barbados, our countries and the region of the Americas must attain by 2030.”
However, he cautioned, “...Our successful achievement of many of the targets will be dependent on multisectoral involvement and collaboration both within and outside of government. To the Secretariat I say, that this will require a well-coordinated and structured approach which I am sure you have taken into consideration within the mechanisms of operationalizing the SHAA.”
Risk communication and the role and use of the media is another area for active consideration as viable vehicles for sharing and dissemination of information, galvanizing support in the implementation of strategies and securing buy in at all required levels.
“My final recommendation is for a strong emphasis on building capacity and providing models and best practices in the areas of monitoring, evaluation and in the collaborative efforts required for the effective execution of the stated initiatives. This will give the much needed support required to facilitate the successful implementation of this draft agenda...” (NB)