Ministers of Health in the Organization of East Caribbean States will this week seek to craft a comprehensive strategy to mitigate emerging viral diseases, particularly Chikungunya and Ebola, through the engagement of a range of regional and international agencies.{{more}}

The ministers’ meeting will take place here in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) from Wednesday, October 15 to Thursday, October 16, 2014 at the National Insurances Services facility, at 9 a.m. on each day.

The gathering of ministers is the 28th Policy Board meeting of the OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (PPS) and the First Council of OECS Health Ministers.

The ministers and their administrative and technical professionals will discuss the annual work programme of the OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Service, which holds responsibility for the procurement and management of medical products for the OECS public health sector.

A release from the Ministry of Health said during the past year, the OECS/PPS purchased approximately $22 million worth of medical products, which triggered an aggregate cost savings of $4.35 million.

The OECS/PPS Annual Report has revealed that the availability of medicines in the OECS Member States was indeed satisfactory. This resulted in citizens enjoying easy access to essential medicines, the release said.

Another very important item on the Ministers’ meeting agenda will be the World Pediatric Project, an agency which provides enormous medical support for pediatric care throughout the OECS.

The official Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, October 15, will hear addresses by Ellsworth John, SVG Ambassador to the OECS, outgoing chair Alvina Reynolds, Minister of Health etc in St Lucia, and also incoming chair Clayton Burgin, Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment of St Vincent and the Grenadines.