By Sue-Ann Wayow
TRINIDAD and Tobago is set to receive support from the World Health Organization (WHO) in its fight against.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Health in a media release on Sunday.
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh is currently attending the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, where he highlighted the scourge of NCDs and called for more robust, targeted action on this front.
In his national statement, Deyalsingh called for robust and targeted approaches to address marketing strategies used by multinational corporations which encourage increased consumption of fast food by teens and adolescents, with the aim of preventing an explosive increase in the rate of NCDs including cancers.
Deyalsingh noted that unrepressed expansion of NCDs posed devastating global health consequences for individuals, families and communities, and threatens to overwhelm health systems around the world, the release stated.
He also spoke on the issue of childhood vaccinations including poliomyelitis. During his visit, the Deyalsingh met with WHO’s Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and presented a letter of invitation from the Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to visit Trinidad and Tobago at his earliest convenience.
Among the issues discussed at the Assembly were the importance of the global Pandemic Accord, particularly for Small Island Developing States such as Trinidad and Tobago, and the need for heightened collaboration and resource-sharing among countries in the context of post Covid-19 recovery.
Delaysingh is leading the delegation of Trinidad and Tobago to the World Health Assembly, which is taking place from May 21 – 30, 2023.
He is accompanied by County Medical Officer of Health Dr Jeanine St Bernard and officials of the Permanent Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, Geneva.
The 28 countries entitled for WHO’s support countries are: Argentina, Bahrain, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, Eswatini, Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritius, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Seychelles, Slovenia, South Africa, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Uruguay.
