Dominica Launches Inaugural Primary Health Care Week Honoring Dr. Carissa Etienne
Summary
PAHO/WHO congratulates the Government of Dominica on declaring its inaugural Primary Health Care Week, 13-17 April 2026, honoring Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, Dominican national and Director Emeritus of PAHO. The observance recognizes Dominica's district-based health system serving over 66,000 people through more than 50 public health centres. This is a commendatory statement reaffirming PAHO's support for strengthening community-centered primary health care as the foundation for universal health.
What changed
PAHO/WHO issued a commendatory statement congratulating Dominica on declaring its inaugural Primary Health Care Week, 13-17 April 2026, honoring Dr. Carissa F. Etienne. The observance recognizes Dominica's district-based health system serving a population of over 66,000 through more than 50 public health centres and clinics. The health system addresses noncommunicable diseases—hypertension-related heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and complications including renal failure and amputations—as leading causes of death, delivering prevention, early detection, and long-term management through community-based services.
This congratulatory statement does not create compliance obligations for regulated entities. It serves as recognition of Dominica's achievements in strengthening community-centered primary health care and may inform regional health policy discussions. The commendation highlights Dominica's sustained investments in climate-smart health infrastructure following Hurricane Maria in 2017, reinforcing the capacity of the health system to respond to both everyday health needs and public health emergencies.
Archived snapshot
Apr 18, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
- Home
- News
- PAHO/WHO commends Dominica on inaugural Primary Health Care Week honouring Dr. Carissa Etienne
PAHO/WHO commends Dominica on inaugural Primary Health Care Week honouring Dr. Carissa Etienne
PAHO/WHO/Brenda Lashley Credit Bridgetown, Barbados, 14 April 2026 - The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) warmly congratulates the Government and people of the Commonwealth of Dominica on the declaration of the country’s inaugural Primary Health Care Week, 13-17 April 2026, observed in honour of Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, Dominican national and Director Emeritus of PAHO.
The week was officially declared open by the Honourable Cassanni Laville, Minister of Health, Wellness and Social Services during National Public Health Week, marking a significant milestone in Dominica’s long‑standing commitment to strong, community‑centered primary health care as the foundation for universal health.
Dominica’s primary health care network, organized across seven health districts, serves as the first point of contact for the population through more than 50 public health centers and clinics, providing essential services that are largely free at the point of use. These services reach communities across the island, including rural areas and the Kalinago Territory, and support health needs across the life course.
Primary health care plays a central role in addressing Dominica’s most pressing health challenges. Noncommunicable diseases principally hypertension-related heart disease and stroke - are the leading causes of death, followed closely by diabetes and its complications, including renal failure, lower-limb amputations, and blindness. Prevention, early detection, and long‑term management of these conditions are delivered primarily through community‑based health services.
Speaking on the importance of the observance, the PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, Dr. Amalia Del Riego, commended Dominica’s leadership and vision:
“The declaration of Primary Health Care Week in honour of Dr. Carissa Etienne is both symbolic and substantive. Dr. Etienne devoted her life to advancing equity, universal access to health, and people‑centred, primary health care-based health systems. Dominica’s strong district based health system serving a population of just over 66,000 people through community clinics, health teams reflect the very values she championed across the Americas.”
Primary care facilities in Dominica deliver a wide range of services, including maternal, newborn, and child health care; immunization; family planning and reproductive health services; mental health support; dental care; environmental health and vector control; and screening and management of chronic diseases. These services are supported by a multidisciplinary workforce of doctors, nurses, community health aides, environmental health officers, and support staff.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017, Dominica has made sustained investments to strengthen resilient, climate‑smart primary health care infrastructure, train health workers, and expand community outreach efforts that have reinforced the capacity of the health system to respond to both everyday health needs and public health emergencies.
PAHO/WHO also recognizes the dedication of Dominica’s health workforce, whose service ensures continuity of care and brings prevention and wellness closer to homes and communities every day.
As Dominica honours the extraordinary legacy of Dr. Carissa Etienne, PAHO/WHO reaffirms its commitment to supporting the country in strengthening primary health care, reducing avoidable illness and premature deaths, and advancing health for all.
Country News Primary Health Care Health Services Universal Health Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries
Other news
PAHO and CARPHA Strengthen Collaboration to Advance Health Outcomes in the Caribbean
13 Apr 2026
From Bench to Bedside: Strengthening Barbados’ Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance
10 Apr 2026
Building Knowledge Together: Strengthening a Caribbean Community of Practice
10 Apr 2026
Building Stronger Foundations for AMR Surveillance in Haiti and the Dominican Republic
10 Apr 2026
PAHO Launches First ReLAVRA+ Training of 2026 to Strengthen AMR Surveillance in the Region
10 Apr 2026
Expanding Psychological First Aid Services to Support Communities in Crisis after Hurricane Melissa
10 Apr 2026
Latest news
PAHO launches new policy guidance to strengthen long-term care in Latin America and the Caribbean
15 Apr 2026
CEPI and PAHO expand partnership to strengthen regulatory systems and vaccine safety across the Americas
14 Apr 2026
World Chagas Disease Day 2026: PAHO and the Global Chagas Coalition highlight the central role of women in eliminating the disease
13 Apr 2026
Related changes
Get daily alerts for PAHO News
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from PAHO.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when PAHO News publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.