Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton was commended for the British Virgin Islands’ progress towards an universal health system by Dr. Godfrey Xuereb, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

Dr. Godfrey Xuereb visited the Territory as part of his official tour of the Eastern Caribbean countries on November 16 to 18.

During the meeting, Dr. Xuereb described the BVI as being a model for other countries in the region. In recognition of this achievement, he invited Minister Skelton as the only Caribbean Minister to take part in a Forum on December 7 and 8, 2015.

The forum will convene representatives of national authorities from several countries in the Pan American region and will advocate on the need to make the necessary investments to advance towards universal health as an essential element for sustainable human development. It will also examine policy options and interventions to increase fiscal priority for health, and improve efficiency of health financing.

Minister Skelton expressed his commitment to continuing the progress of health reform and a continued partnership with PAHO and WHO.

PAHO was founded in 1902 and is the world’s oldest international public health agency. PAHO provides technical cooperation and mobilises partnerships to improve health and quality of life in the countries of the Americas.

PAHO is the specialised health agency of the Inter-American System and serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Together with WHO, PAHO is a member of the United Nations system.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide a caring and integrated system of health and social services that facilitates human development and improves the quality of life in the Virgin Islands.