Latest update April 13th, 2025 6:34 AM
Championing the cause of health…Former Assistant Secretary-General recipient of PAHO 2011 Award
Dr Edward Greene, former Assistant Secretary-General for Human and Social Development at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and CARICOM’s Adviser for CARPHA is the recipient of the PAHO 2011 Award for Administration.
The award was presented to Dr Greene on Monday, during the afternoon session of the Directing Council in recognition of his illustrious career in public health and development.
Dr Edward Greene
The award cited Dr Greene’s contribution to the development of the health sector and human resources in CARICOM, and for his mobilization of political commitment to achieve meaningful outcomes on a broad range of priority public health issues.
These included the establishment of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP), the Caribbean strategy on climate change, the Caribbean Cooperation in Health Initiative (CCHII and CCHII), the Caribbean Commission on Health and Development (CCHD), the first Summit of CARICOM Heads of Government on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, and the establishment of a new Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
In accepting the award, Dr Greene commended PAHO for its determined fight for championing the cause of health “as a pathway to improving the human condition, welfare and economic security of the peoples of the Americas.”
Referring to the outcome document of the just-concluded United Nations High Level Meeting on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in New York, Dr Greene noted that there was recognition that the fight against NCDs is a shared responsibility involving governments, private sector and civil society and requires sustainable financing.
“Like AIDS, if the NCD epidemic is to be defeated regionally and internationally, it will require an alliance of science, activism and altruism. In this alliance the role of public health is pivotal, since it means integrating NCDs into primary care,” he opined.
Dr Greene explained that history had proved that the best health care delivery models were those that engaged the communities, and connected the patient in the rural village through appropriate diagnostic capacity and referral pathways.
Similarly, public health professionals, he argued, had a responsibility for preventing problems from occurring or recurring through implementing educational programs, developing policies, administering services, regulating health systems … and conducting research.
Health, he averred, was a complex political and development issue. While health policies and systems were largely shaped by political decision-making, “routines of health systems were brought alive through the relationships among the actors involved in managing, delivering and accessing health care and engaged in wider action to promote health.”
“I therefore accept this award, humbled by the rich tradition of PAHO, and flattered to be considered a part of its enduring legacy, which “common intent” is commitment to the principles and practices of Pan Americanism and equity in health. In accepting this award I pledge to be a lifetime member of PAHO’s brigade for building bridges of hope for the people of the Americas,” the former CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General concluded.
The PAHO Award for Administration is conferred every year by the Governments of the Americas through their representatives during the meetings of the PAHO Governing Bodies, in recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of administration within the framework of the national health services.
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