“We reaffirm our commitment to collective action, shared priorities, and the health and well-being of our Caribbean Community, amid a rapidly evolving global health landscape, changing donor priorities, and shifting regional and international dynamics. There is also an opportunity for us to focus on self-reliance and innovative strategies, ensuring that our Region not only responds to challenges but leads with solutions tailored to our unique context.”
Dr Shawn Charles, Chief Medical Officer of Grenada and Chair, Meeting of Officials Preparatory to the Fiftieth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) – Health
Senior health officials from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States and Associate Members convened virtually from 17 – 18 September for the Meeting of Officials Preparatory to the Fiftieth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) – Health (slated for 26-27 September 2025 in Washington D.C.). The two-day session focused on advancing critical issues shaping the Region’s health sector and reaffirming collective action toward a resilient, equitable, and people-centred Caribbean health agenda.
Discussions covered a wide range of strategic priorities, including pandemic preparedness and response, health systems strengthening, human resources for health, vaccine-preventable diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The meeting also spotlighted efforts to end AIDS by 2030 through the development of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (CRSF) and the importance of coordinated action with development partners. The PAHO-CARICOM Joint Subregional Cooperation Strategy was cited as a key mechanism to align investments and technical support across Member States.
Chairing the meeting, Dr Shawn Charles, Chief Medical Officer of Grenada, underscored the importance of regional solidarity in the face of evolving global health dynamics. “We reaffirm our commitment to shared priorities and innovative strategies that respond to our unique context,” he stated. Dr Charles highlighted the Caribbean’s unified stance at the Seventy-Eighth World Health Assembly as a powerful example of regional collaboration, noting that “when we act together, we strengthen our negotiating power and advance health security for all.”
Dr Charles emphasised the need for a resilient health workforce, robust surveillance systems, and strengthened regulatory frameworks, referencing the Human Resource for Health (HRH) Caribbean Roadmap 2025–2030 as a cornerstone for future capacity building.
Helen Royer, Director of Human Development at the CARICOM Secretariat echoed the Chair’s sentiments. “[The] Fifty [COHSOD] is a significant milestone,” Ms Royer noted, “and an opportunity to reflect on our progress in building efficient, affordable health systems across the Caribbean.”
The Director celebrated recent achievements, including World Health Organisation (WHO) certification for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis in Belize, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, joining several other CARICOM Member States. She also called attention to the resurgence of measles across the Americas, urging strengthened immunisation programmes to protect vulnerable populations.
Addressing the persistent challenge of NCDs, which account for over 60% of deaths in the Region, Ms Royer advocated for multisectoral collaboration and people-centred approaches. She emphasised the need to confront commercial determinants of health, strengthen accountability, and build climate-resilient health strategies.
The Director expressed gratitude to global partners such as PAHO/WHO and the Global Fund for their continued support, and commended the dedication of Chief Medical Officers, national health officials, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), and the CARICOM Secretariat health team.
As Caribbean health sector stakeholders prepare for the Fiftieth COHSOD – Health, participants reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated action and shared vision, working together to build a healthier, safer, and more resilient Caribbean.
