Minister Maginley and his regional counterparts

Minister Maginley making his presentation at the PAHO Meeting

Minister of Health, Sports and Youth Affairs, the Hon John Maginley, yesterday made a presentation to officials of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on national health developments in Antigua and Barbuda.

The Minister, who is accompanied by Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, Acting Chief Medical Officer, is in Washington D.C., on a three-day orientation to PAHO for the Ministers of Health from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis. The orientation will provide Ministers with an overview of PAHO/WHO and its regional technical units. Ministers are also expected to discuss strategies aimed at improving technical cooperation between PAHO and the countries of the Eastern Caribbean.

In his 45-minute presentation, Minister Maginley provided a synopsis of the health situation in Antigua and Barbuda. Minister Maginley noted that risk factors such as obesity, reduced physical activity, and high fat diets have resulted in chronic non- communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and cerebrovascular diseases being the top five causes of death in the country. The Minister is having discussions with consultants in PAHO to formulate strategies to combat these diseases.

The Minister also highlighted that the high rate of infection of HIV/AIDS remains a serious concern. Minister Maginley pointed out that efforts are underway to ensure that all persons infected with HIV/AIDS receive antiretro-viral drugs. He also indicated that one of the goals of the Health Ministry was to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections among persons in the 15-44 age group by 10% over the period 2004-2014.

During discussions this morning, Minister Maginley is expected to discuss with PAHO officials, ways of improving and promoting technical cooperation between PAHO and Antigua and Barbuda. According to Minister Maginley, a closer collaboration with PAHO and other regional and international organizations is necessary if Antigua and Barbuda is to adequately address its priority health issues and meets its health goals. (Ends)

Digital photos by PAHO: