OECS Heads of Government to meet with WHO Director General

(Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Press Release) The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission announces the convening of the 6th Meeting of the OECS Authority, to be held under the Chairmanship of Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica. The meeting will be held on Friday 19th March, 2021 and will receive the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and his team.

Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules, is anticipating a productive outcome with the WHO and hopes that this meeting will help bridge the vaccine gap for OECS Member States.

“The Special Meeting of the OECS Heads of Government with WHO is critical for two main reasons: it will allow the OECS to join with Director General Tedros in advocating for more equitable access to vaccines and unlocking supplies for developing states. This Special Session will give the OECS Authority an opportunity to explore approaches to filling the gap between vaccines accessible through the COVAX Facility and bilateral sources, and highlighting the health needs of our Member States. Finding a timely solution is critical from a public health standpoint but will also provide the building blocks to resuscitate, repair and rebuild the economies across our region.” 

Another key point for the Authority will be to explore the support of the WHO through the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. 

The Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, as well as the Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Dr. Joy St. John, will join the discussion to speak to critical public health concerns related to combat the pandemic.

Read more at: Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Press Room

Source: CARICOM TODAY