Seychelles joins small European countries in key Health meetings

Health Minister Peggy Vidot (left in bottom row) and Principal Secretary  Bernard Valentin (left in top row) are in Limassol, Cyprus for the 10th meeting of health ministers of small countries of Europe, taking place from 10 to 12 April under the auspices of the European Office of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It is odd but rather prestigious for Seychelles to join a group such as the small European states like Andorra, Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino and Slovenia to discuss health, and for the third straight year.

Cancer, climate change and health, strategies for human resource for health, access to new medicine and health and tourism feature prominently on the agenda .

“These are all crucial topics for Seychelles,” said Minister Vidot. “At this very moment the Ministry of Health is seeking technical assistance from the World Health Organisation to develop both our national cancer prevention and management strategy and our national human resource for health strategy.

“We have recently assumed the Chairmanship of the small island states of the African region of WHO where pooled procurement of medicines as well as climate change and health and health and tourism are our main preoccupations.

“This meeting will widen Seychelles’ perspectives on all these issues. We are happy and honoured to be actively participating in the meeting for the third time - although we are not geographically part of Europe.

• Minister Vidot

”Each year the health ministers meet to measure progress, discuss new health agendas and joint activities so as to take maximum advantage of their combined strength to advance their particular and common issues at national and international levels”.