Trinidad and Tobago Charts a Bold Path Toward Disease Elimination Following Successful High-Level PAHO Mission

Port-of-Spain, 3 August 2026 (PAHO): - Trinidad and Tobago has taken an important step forward in its journey toward eliminating communicable diseases, following the successful conclusion of the PAHO Elimination Initiative High-Level Mission held from 27 to 31 July.

Over five days, national leaders, health professionals, technical experts, and development partners came together to define a shared vision for the future of public health in Trinidad and Tobago. The mission combined high-level discussions, technical exchanges, health facility visits, and collaborative planning sessions designed to identify priorities and accelerate progress toward disease elimination.

Leading the mission was Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, Assistant Director of PAHO, whose visit underscored the Organization's commitment to supporting countries in transforming ambitious public health goals into actionable national strategies. During the mission, Dr. Sealey-Thomas, together with Dr. Gabriel Vivas Francesconi, PAHO/WHO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch Caribbean, and Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri, Director of Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control and Elimination at PAHO Headquarters, engaged with national health leaders and stakeholders to advance discussions on key health matters.

The week began with a courtesy meeting with the Honourable Dr. Lackram Bodoe, Minister of Health, where discussions focused on strengthening collaboration and reviewing key public health priorities, including the disease elimination agenda, progress in digital health transformation, advances under the Trinidad and Tobago+ One Health Project, and preparations for the upcoming PAHO Directing Council.

(Right) Dr. Gabriel Vivas Francesconi, Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas and Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri meet with (Centre Left) the Honourable Dr. Lackram Bodoe, Minister of Health and executives of the Ministry of Heath

The mission also provided an opportunity to showcase the country's ongoing public health efforts through visits to Caura Hospital and the Queen's Park Counselling Centre and Clinic, where healthcare teams shared both achievements and challenges in advancing tuberculosis, HIV, STI, and other disease control programmes.

Dr. Candis Gomez-Akan, Thoracic Medical Director at Caura Hospital leads the team on the tour of the facility

A major highlight of the week was the launch of the process to develop Trinidad and Tobago's National Roadmap for the Elimination of Communicable Diseases and Related Conditions. During an intensive two-day workshop, stakeholders from across the health sector worked together to identify priority areas, examine barriers to progress, and propose practical solutions that will help shape the country's roadmap.

Importantly, Trinidad and Tobago now stands as the first country in the Caribbean to begin developing a national roadmap under PAHO's Disease Elimination Initiative, reinforcing its role as a regional leader in public health innovation and collaboration.

The week demonstrated what can be achieved when government, healthcare professionals, international partners, and communities unite behind a common goal. The conversations have begun, the priorities have been identified, and the foundation has been laid for the next phase of work.

Presenters, facilitators and participants of the workshop to Define Trinidad and Tobago´s roadmap to accelerate and sustain Disease Elimination of Communicable Diseases and Related Conditions

As the mission concludes, one message is clear, Trinidad and Tobago is not only building a roadmap for disease elimination but also helping to shape the future of public health leadership in the Caribbean.

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Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch Caribbean Islands