CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque congratulate PAHO Director Dr Clarissa Etienne

CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has congratulated PAHO Director Dr Carissa Etienne on her achievements. Dr Etienne was sworn in for a 2nd term as Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Thursday.
 
While delivering an address at the inauguration ceremony at PAHO Headquarters in Washington DC, LaRocque credited Dr Etienne’s re-election, to her achievements over her first five years in office.
 
“Reward for good work is more hard work,” he stated lauding her leadership of administrative and management changes to improve the efficiency of PAHO. He commended its successful response to public health emergencies such as Zika, Chikungunya, and cholera in the Americas which saw a dramatic decline in the number of reported cases of those diseases.
 
While also applauding her leadership of PAHO during its prompt response of relief and recovery following hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, he expressed “heartfelt appreciation” for the continued assistance it continues to render to the Region.
 
The role of health organisations such as PAHO is critical in disaster management and recovery, he stated, noting the serious threat to the well-being of people in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters such as hurricanes.
 
“The psychological trauma which afflicted those devastated by the loss of loved ones, as well as their property and belongings also had to be addressed. Again this Organization, under your leadership, was instrumental in providing assistance in that regard,” the CARICOM Secretary-General said.
 
He also praised Dr. Etienne and her team for their support of the goal to eliminate Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis, which since 2015, seven Caribbean countries, led by Cuba, the first in the world, have achieved.