Dr. Tufton Calls for Special Treatment of Small Island States

Special consideration must be given to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and their circumstances, including high debt burdens and small size, which compromise their capacity to respond effectively, without support, to a pandemic.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, made the call while addressing the opening of the 75th Session of the Regional Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Americas, and 60th Directing Council Meeting of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington DC on Monday (September 25).

He said that the reality that Caribbean SIDS face, together with other prevailing stressors, including the sobering reality of climate change risks and threats, means they must have the benefit of special considerations and provisions that enable their enhanced resilience.

Minister Tufton, who is the outgoing President of the Directing Council, pointed out that the body is meeting at a time when there are significant challenges facing the region, in particular Caribbean SIDS.

“These are challenges that demand scaled-up, collaborative and sustained actions, and across a range of areas, involving diverse stakeholders, including those of us present in this room today,” he noted.

Dr. Tufton said the meeting “provides a space to advance the work of public health in the interest of the people of the region of the Americas”.

He expressed confidence that the Directing Council “is up to the task, with a demonstrated commitment to safeguarding the health of the region’s people and a track record of partnerships that have served the public good, incentivised by our individual and collective preoccupation with and prioritisation of the changing sick profile of our populations”.

The 75th Session of the Regional Committee of the WHO for the Americas, which is currently under way at the PAHO Washington DC Headquarters, will end on Friday (September 29).