Delegation from the Turks and Caicos Islands attends high level meeting on Universal Health in the 21st Century

#Ecuador, December 20, 2017 – Quito – Honorable Edwin Astwood, Minister of Health, Agriculture and Human Services attended a high level meeting on Universal Health in the 21^st century: 40 years of Alma-Ata on December 11-12, 2017, in Quito, Ecuador by invitation from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).   Mrs. Jackurlyn Sutton, Chief Nursing Officer/Primary Health Care Manager, Ms. Nordia Campbell, Budget Director and Mrs. Darlene Clerveaux-Forbes, Executive Administrator, accompanied the Minister to this meeting.

This high level meeting organized by PAHO constituted a forum for regional dialogue, analysis and debate on the values and principles of Alma Ata, within the context of Universal Health in the 21^stcentury.   During this meeting the Minister Hon. Edwin Astwood met with a number of Caribbean and Latin American Ministers of Health which included Minister of Public Health of Ecuador – Maria Veronica Espinosa Serrano and other key representatives from Member States, participants and representatives of PAHO/WHO and High level Officials of UNASUR.    Also in attendance, was former Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, who is currently a consultant with PAHO.

The meeting discussed the achievements and challenges faced by member states throughout the region on the Declaration of Alma-Ata which was adopted 40 years ago when member states committed as signatories to “Health for All by the year 2000”.   It was envisioned that this would be accomplished through the need for urgent action by all governments, all health and development workers, and the world community to protect and promote the health of All people.

The meeting provided the opportunity for member states to revisit the advances made over the past 40 years in Primary Health Care: A clearly defined first level of care;

• Different models of health care systems that have been implemented to guarantee access to care;
• Progress or talks on Universal Access to Care Declaration;
• Signature of the cooperation strategy between the countries and PAHO on Universal Access to Care Declaration.
• Major challenges, identified were:
• Inequity in health care
• Lack of genuine social participation from civil society and
• Identification of a sustainable financing measure to secure universal access and equity

Detailed presentations were made on:

• Universal Health in the 21^stCentury: how to build political viability?
• Universal Health and the participation of civil society
• Transformation of health systems towards Universal Health
• Expansion of Equitable Access to Health Systems based on primary health care

The Chief Nursing Officer/Primary Health Care Manager, Mrs. Jackurlyn Sutton in her comments stated “This forum was timely in the life of the health care system in the Turks and Caicos Islands as we commit to strengthening our Primary Health Care Services though workshops and meetings with wider stakeholder consultation on the way forward in identifying and adopting a new model of care focused on individuals, families and communities”.

This dialogue on Universal Health will continue in the region throughout 2018.

Press Release: TCIG