The Bahamas joins regional primary health care alliance

The Bahamas has made history by becoming the first member of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to join the Alliance for Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Americas. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) welcomed the nation's accession, highlighting the initiative's role in bolstering health systems across the region.

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The Bahamas is pleased to join the Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas and welcomes this important partnership. For us, partnership in the Alliance is not about adding another country to a regional network, it is about adding meaningful impact where it matters most – in the lives of our people.

The Alliance for Primary Health Care is a collaborative effort spearheaded by PAHO, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the World Bank. Its core mission is to support countries in enhancing their primary health care services and transforming their overall health systems. This is achieved through strategic alignment of investments, technical cooperation, and fostering innovation centered on national health priorities.

As part of its commitment, The Bahamas has established a dedicated Consultative Mechanism for Primary Health Care. This strategic platform, led by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, will serve as a crucial link between national authorities and the Alliance partners. Its purpose is to ensure that investments, technical expertise, and innovative solutions are effectively coordinated and directly address the country's most pressing health needs and its National Health Strategy.

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Through this Alliance, we envisaged that technical expertise, investment and innovation would be better aligned with our national priorities; support for the implementation of The Bahamas National Health Strategy; and an accelerated transformation of the country’s health system through a primary health care approach.

Health and Wellness Minister Michael Darville expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "The Bahamas is pleased to join the Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas and welcomes this important partnership." He emphasized that the alliance signifies more than just regional networking; it represents a commitment to making a tangible impact on people's lives. Darville anticipates that the collaboration will accelerate the transformation of the country's health system through a robust primary health care approach.

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The Bahamas is the first Caricom member state to join the Alliance, marking a new chapter for the initiative and creating an important opportunity to extend its benefits across the Caribbean.

PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa noted the significance of The Bahamas's membership, remarking, "The Bahamas is the first Caricom member state to join the Alliance, marking a new chapter for the initiative and creating an important opportunity to extend its benefits across the Caribbean." He added that the mechanism will facilitate policy dialogue and technical collaboration, translating shared commitments into a practical roadmap for implementing the National Health Strategic Plan.

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Through the Primary Health Care Consultative Mechanism, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, PAHO, the IDB and the World Bank will work together to identify shared priorities, align technical cooperation and investments, and translate our shared commitment into a practical roadmap for implementing the National Health Strategic Plan.