Ministry of Health and PAHO Strengthen Strategic Partnership for Public Health.
ORANJESTAD— The Minister of Health, Social Affairs, Elderly Care, and Addiction Care, drs. Mervin Wyatt-Ras recently received an official delegation from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The meeting aims to strengthen regional cooperation and review the strategic direction for public health in Aruba.
Since 2012, Aruba has received ongoing support from PAHO in assistance and technical guidance on essential health-related matters. During the recent exchange, one of the main topics was the alarming increase in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, pulmonary problems, and diabetes. PAHO emphasized that these diseases are a high priority and put enormous financial pressure on Aruba’s health care system.
With the technical data and support of PAHO, the government must develop preventive healthcare policies to reduce medical costs and the incidence of chronic diseases. Our community faces a reality where overweight and obesity are on the rise, and this is endangering our community. The only way to address this serious problem is with concrete data, collaboration between medical institutions, and preventive measures.
One of the significant steps identified is the need to improve collaboration between the Horacio Oduber Hospital and the IMSan Medical Center to share medical information and optimize case management. The strategy for more effective and targeted management is crucial for future development.
They also discussed the significance of technological innovation in healthcare, particularly the potential integration of robotic systems and artificial intelligence. Minister Wyatt-Ras emphasized that Aruba should not lag in modern developments that can improve efficiency and care for our community.
They also discussed a strategy to improve some medical facilities' baby-friendly status. This initiative aims to focus on the screening and ongoing monitoring of children's health from birth in collaboration with DVG and Wit Gele Kruis. The goal is to strengthen primary health at an early age. In addition, PAHO presented the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2025-2030, which outlines strategic priorities for Aruba and aligns with national needs and the global goal. The CCS represents a format for collaboration on advanced WHO issues to improve public health.
Minister Wyatt-Ras thanked PAHO for the ongoing partnership. She underscored the government's resolve to pursue a cutting-edge, easily accessible, and long-lasting health system for the good of all.
