The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the United States of America. The MoU was inked on Monday September 25, 2017. The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation in health on initiatives that prevent disease, promote health and respond to public health emergencies which are mutually beneficial to the peoples of the regions.
Signing the MoU was Dr. C. James Hospedales, Executive Director, CARPHA and Dr. Thomas E. Price, Secretary of HHS. The MoU was endorsed in the presence of Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and Dr. Douglas Slater, Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development in CARICOM. The MoU opens a new chapter in collaborative efforts in making the Region’s health stronger and more resilient, better suited to the needs of its people.
In his remarks, Dr. Hospedales stated, “The signing of the MOU strengthens and deepens our existing relationship with HHS, such as CDC and NIH, and supports the work of the Agency in Member States. The areas of collaboration are in line with CARPHA’s strategic priorities such as childhood obesity and other non-communicable diseases, health security, HIV/AIDS, and environmental health.”
Secretary Price added, “This memorandum is an important step in the U.S. government’s deep commitment to global health security. It will support ongoing work to keep Americans and our neighbors in the Caribbean region safe from the threat of infectious diseases.”