Thank you, Sir George Alleyne.
Your Excellency Premier Ellis L. Webster,
Your Excellency Terrence Deyalsingh
Your Excellency Ryan Straughn,
Your Excellency K.K. Jagutpal,
The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland,
WHO Regional Director for the Americas, Dr Jarbas Barbosa
Dr Juan Pablo Uribe,
Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, dear colleagues, and friends,
I’m sorry I can’t be with you in person, but I send greetings from Trinidad and Tobago. It’s an honour to welcome you to this roundtable discussion.
I thank the Government of Barbados for hosting this unique ministerial conference, and the Government of Fiji for its contribution to the preparations.
It’s perhaps fitting that I’m joining you from Port of Spain, where the Declaration of Port of Spain was signed in 2007.
That declaration was a landmark in the global response to NCDs, and resulted from a historic meeting of heads of government of the Caribbean Community, who recognized the devastating burden and consequences of NCDs on their citizens, and the need to respond at the highest political level.
Since then, we have seen encouraging progress in the region, such as the Caribbean Moves campaign to promote physical activity, the introduction of taxes on sugary drinks, and efforts to improve nutrition in schools.
As you know, the Port of Spain declaration has been reinvigorated during this meeting, and remains a resounding call to action.
It’s all the more important now, as we meet at a difficult time for the world, and for multilateralism.
Multiple overlapping humanitarian crises – triggered by wars, natural disasters, climate change, and food insecurity – have placed unprecedented pressures on governments.
Tightening financial conditions have increased debt distress in many countries, including many of yours.
These overlapping and intersecting shocks have put vital, long-term health investments at risk.
Ministerial conferences, such as this, have a critical role to play.
Even after one day, we have come a long way in sharing experiences, identifying solutions and agreeing on next steps to accelerate actions to some of the greatest health challenges facing SIDS.
I am convinced that by uniting and amplifying the unique voice of the SIDS, we can go far together.
WHO is and will remain your steadfast partner on this journey.
We are committed to working with you to address the grave challenges discussed during this conference, and to take forward the commitments in the 2023 Bridgetown Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health that’s to be adopted later today.
We will further expand our technical support and provide policy guidance on health financing, the health workforce, and digital transformation.
WHO will also be your partner as you continue to advocate for a Loss and Damage Fund, as you prepare for the next critical COP in the United Arab Emirates, and as you prepare to build the next 10-year SIDS agenda within the United Nations.
And we will engage with governments, multilateral organizations, development banks, and the private sector to advocate for solutions to address your vulnerabilities and to help you build resilient health systems.
Excellencies,
We have lived through an unprecedented crisis – one that made crystal clear that health is central to development, prosperity, and national security. We need to take those lessons and apply them.
I would like to leave you with four final thoughts.
First, we need a new vision for the future.
As we come to the end of the SAMOA Pathway process, I urge us all to develop a strong, comprehensive and impactful health agenda for the next 10 years – one that is owned and led by SIDS themselves.
The 2023 Bridgetown Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health will be the first major outcome that will inform these discussions.
Second, we need new partnerships, across agencies and across sectors, to ensure that we take collective action to break down the barriers facing the SIDS.
We especially need the input of civil society and people with lived experience to develop coherent and effective policies.
Third, we need a new agreement on pandemic preparedness and response.
The ongoing negotiations on a legally-binding pandemic accord will help the world to move forward with a shared commitment to meet shared threats with a shared response. I urge you to engage actively and constructively in these negotiations.
And fourth, we need a new commitment to accelerate action on NCDs and mental health, by investing in cost-effective interventions and health system strengthening.
On the occasion of WHO’s 75th anniversary this year, we must all recommit to the vision nations had when they founded WHO in 1948: the highest possible standard of health for all people.
Thank you for all the commitments you have announced during this meeting, and for your commitment to a healthier, safer, fairer future for all SIDS.
WHO is committed to supporting you on this journey.
I thank you.