Trinidad and Tobago has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for the 2026-2029 term, the Ministry of Health announced today.
The election took place during the 63rd Directing Council of PAHO and the 78th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Americas. Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe attended the meetings in Washington, D.C., from September 28 to October 2.
The PAHO Executive Committee has nine Member States, elected for overlapping three-year terms. It serves as a working body of the organisation’s governing bodies and meets twice a year to consider key technical and administrative matters. The committee now comprises Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Haiti, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.
The ministry said the election strengthens the country’s role in regional health governance and decision-making. As a member, Trinidad and Tobago will take part in discussions that shape PAHO’s regional priorities, policies and programmes, and will bring national and Caribbean perspectives to deliberations on shared public health challenges.
Minister Bodoe said the appointment is an opportunity to contribute to regional health policy while ensuring that the priorities of Caribbean countries are represented.
“Trinidad and Tobago intends to be an active and constructive member of the Executive Committee. This gives us another platform to advance practical cooperation on the issues that directly affect our people, including access to medicines and health technologies, non-communicable diseases, the health workforce, health security and stronger health systems,” he said.
Trinidad and Tobago has also been selected to serve on PAHO’s Subcommittee on Program, Budget and Administration. This advisory body of the Executive Committee reviews matters related to PAHO’s programmes, budget and administration, and makes recommendations to the committee.
The ministry said the selections reflect growing recognition of the country’s leadership and engagement in regional health matters.
The election marks Trinidad and Tobago’s return to the Executive Committee, where it previously served from 2014 to 2017.