(LOOP NEWS CARIBBEAN) – The region’s chief medical officers have been lauded for their role in the successful management of COVID-19 in their countries.
Director of Human Development at the CARICOM Secretariat Helen Royer noted that many are pleasantly surprised by the Caribbean’s handling of the fast-spreading and deadly virus.
She was speaking during the 28th meeting of chief medical officers of the Caribbean Community.
“Amazingly to the world perhaps — but not to those of us from the Caribbean — our region has emerged from the first wave standing. We owe much of our success to you, our chief medical officers, who have been at the forefront, doing all that you can in an environment where, as a region, we were facing many challenges in accessing COVID-19 medical supplies,” she said.
Royer said healthcare workers in the Caribbean are now reaping the rewards of many sleepless nights to ensure that the Caribbean people remained safe.
“We salute each and every Chief Medical Officer and we thank you for the tremendous job that you are doing,” she stated.
With some countries opting to reopen their borders to accommodate inter- and intra-regional travel to facilitate economic survival, the human development director said the Caribbean is vulnerable to a second wave of the virus.
She also commended community institutions such as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and the University of the West Indies for their contributions.
She also extended gratitude to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) for its contribution towards national and regional responses to COVID-19.
Royer reminded the CMOs of the importance of addressing other health challenges — such as non-communicable diseases and HIV/AIDS — plaguing the region.
