PAHO Director Pledges Support To Transform Dominica’s Health System
Director of the Pan American Health Organization Dr. Carissa Ettiene is pledging PAHO’s support to Dominica in transforming the island’s health system with special focus on non-communicable diseases (NCD).
Each year, over 15 million people in the Region of the Americas – die from a NCD between the ages of 30 and 69 years and over 85% of these “premature” deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Dr. Ettiene says special emphasis must be placed on addressing the issue of NCD’s in Dominica and the region.
The PAHO director called on Dominica’s Minister of Trade Ian Douglas, to help create an enabling environment to allow citizens to make healthier food choices.
She says, PAHO has had much difficulty in the CARICOM region with regards to food labeling and challenged Minister Douglas to lead the region toward a solution.