Grenada leads Budget discussion for Health in the Caribbean

ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012 _ Grenada has been selected to lead the integration process of the Consultative Working Group of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Regional Program Budget for Health which began Wednesday, February 1, in Washington.

The Spice Island is represented by Terron Gilchrist, Policy Advisor to the Minister for Health, Senator Ann Peters.  Mr. Gilchrist is a former Director of Hospital Services both in Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago.

As part of the three-day meeting, delegates will hold elaborate discussions on a proposal for a new Regional Budget Policy to be presented at the 28th Pan American Sanitary Conference in September of this year.

Meanwhile, UN and PAHO officials have expressed satisfaction with progress made in 2011 in Grenada’s health sector. They have reported that Grenada successfully accomplish more than 80% of its programs on its renewed health agenda last year.

In addition, said the officials, a presentation last September by Sen. Peters to the 66th General Assembly of the United Nations, which dealt with chronic diseases and response strategies undertaken by Grenada, had important lessons for the Caribbean region; not just relating to chronic diseases but also in addressing primary healthcare as a whole.