Last Updated on September 29, 2026, 1:52 PM AST by Anthony Morris
St. Kitts and nevis Ministry of Health participated in the 53rd Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) – Health. The meeting was held in Washington, D.C. over the course of two days.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Curtis Martin and Dr Hazel Laws who serves as the Chief Medical Officer for St. Kitts. They were also accompanied by regional health leaders from across the Caribbean.
The two day meeting served as an opportunity for Health Ministers and senior officers to come together and discuss the critical issues affecting the healthcare sector. The leaders got together to discuss key priorities shaping the future of health across the Caribbean.
The healthcare stakeholders established day wise priorities for the two day meeting. The officials have shared that one of the priorities of the first day is to discuss strengthening the regional health security and improving the preparedness for public health emergencies.
The officers also discussed the collective regional response to NCDs during the first day of the meeting. The regional healthcare stakeholders also talked about the impact of climate change in healthcare.
Another important topic that the authorities touched on during the meeting was in regard to the changes in international financing for combating HIV. In light of the changes, the stakeholders discussed their approach to responding to HIV challenges in the region.
The authorities also talked about implementing the PAHO-CARICOM Joint Subregional Cooperation Strategy. They also discussed the measures to improve regional coordination on cancer prevention and treatment.
The second day touched on topics like Universal Health coverage, the future of digital health in the Caribbean, sustainable health financing. The leadership gathered in Washington DC also talked about creating greater opportunities for cooperation in healthcare among the member states.
The discussions also focussed on developing regional digital health standards and systems and engaging in strategic purchasing, pooled approaches and other financing mechanisms to strengthen health systems. The nations have agreed to share national expertise and services to address common regional health challenges.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
