Carib Scope

分类： health

  • Grievance system planned for health projects

    Grievance system planned for health projects

    Barbados is moving forward with a landmark $175 million national health services resilience initiative, and a dedicated Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) specifically designed to address complaints including sexual exploitation against vulnerable senior citizens and disabled care recipients will soon be operational, a leading project stakeholder has confirmed.

    The GRM forms a core compliance component of the broader Health Services Resilience Programme, a multi-site infrastructure upgrade scheduled for full completion by 2029. The initiative encompasses four major public health and care facilities across the island: a purpose-built new Geriatric Hospital in Waterford, the Roseville Halfway House in St. Peter, a major expansion of the existing Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and the new Odle’s Glenn Senior Village in St. George. The entire project is backed by international development support, with independent environmental and social impact assessments managed through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

    Leisa Perch, founder and managing director of Barbados-based SAEDI Consulting Inc., which led the Environmental and Social Assessment Programme (ESAP) for the initiative, outlined the GRM’s key features during a recent public consultation held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre over the weekend. Perch explained that the framework, which is already being integrated into the project’s official website, establishes clear, accessible timelines for complaint resolution: all grievances will be acknowledged within five business days of submission, with a formal resolution targeted within 30 days.

    To address the unique sensitivity of complaints involving sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, the GRM includes both confidential and fully anonymous reporting pathways, addressing barriers that often prevent vulnerable groups from coming forward. Perch added that each of the four project sites will appoint dedicated community liaison personnel to facilitate outreach, support engagement with local communities, and guide complainants through the reporting process. This multi-channel access model ensures that vulnerable people with limited digital or mobility access are not excluded from filing concerns.

    “This framework isn’t just a procedural requirement – it’s a critical safeguard aligned with the Environmental and Social Performance Standards that govern this entire programme,” Perch emphasized during the consultation. “When you’re working across multiple sites serving at-risk populations, it’s essential that no one is left struggling to have their concerns heard or addressed.”

    Turning to the Odle’s Glenn Senior Village project – a key community-focused component of the wider programme – Perch noted that the environmental and social assessment process identified a specific group of Directly Affected Persons (DAP) who will receive priority monitoring and engagement throughout construction and operations. This designation, a standard requirement in impact assessment protocols, flags groups that face the highest potential for disruption or have the most at stake in the project’s outcome.

    The DAP cohort for Odle’s Glenn includes local residents living adjacent to the site, nearby schools, elderly residents requiring ongoing care, people with disabilities who depend on uninterrupted support services, and on-site caregivers and facility staff. While other stakeholders will also receive ongoing updates, these groups will remain the top priority for outreach and impact mitigation for the full duration of the project.

    Once completed, Odle’s Glenn Senior Village will fill a critical gap in Barbados’ long-term care ecosystem, providing affordable shared housing for independent elderly adults who cannot afford the cost of private care facilities. Situated on three acres of semi-rural land near the Frederick Miller Polyclinic, the development will include 15 to 17 single-story accessible residences paired with communal gathering spaces, all designed to create a safe, supportive community environment for residents. The initiative is being led by Barbados’ Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, as part of a broader push to expand accessible, community-based care services for vulnerable older adults across the island.

  • SVG becomes first OECS member state to adopt regional digital health warning system

    SVG becomes first OECS member state to adopt regional digital health warning system

    In a landmark step for sub-regional public health security, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has made history as the first member state of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to formally adopt the Regional Integrated Early Warning Surveillance and Response System (RIEWSS). This milestone comes after a nine-day technical deployment carried out from June 22 to 30, 2026, executed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) under the umbrella of the World Bank-funded OECS Regional Health Project, per an official press release from CARPHA.

    As the Caribbean’s only unified public health governing body, CARPHA developed RIEWSS as a custom-built digital solution designed specifically for the region’s unique needs. Unlike fragmented surveillance systems, the platform integrates data across four critical domains: human health, animal health, environmental health, and laboratory testing. This cross-sector integration directly addresses gaps that have slowed early detection and rapid response to emerging public health hazards in the past.

    The timing of RIEWSS’s national rollout is strategically intentional. SVG is gearing up to host two major high-profile events in 2026: its iconic national Carnival and matches for the 2026 Caribbean Premier League. While large-scale gatherings draw thousands of international visitors and drive significant local economic activity, they also amplify the risk of disease outbreaks and public health incidents. Having a unified surveillance system in place ahead of these events positions SVG to mitigate these risks effectively.

    During the June technical mission, CARPHA specialists delivered comprehensive training to local national health officials, and configured the platform for SVG’s specific use, creating secure, authorized user accounts that enable frontline workers to access real-time digital data. This capability allows for faster detection, standardized reporting, and seamless sharing of information about unfolding public health events across agencies.

    The mission delivered more than just RIEWSS: teams also launched and began piloting the second iteration of the Caribbean Vessel Surveillance System (CVSS 2.0), a tool designed to boost disease monitoring at SVG’s ports of entry, where international ships and travelers arrive daily. Additionally, CARPHA conducted on-the-ground testing of an electronic entomological data collection system built into its DHIS2 Entomology Module. This digital tool is intended to improve both the accuracy and speed of surveillance for vector-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, which are persistent threats in the Caribbean.

    Health personnel also received specialized training through the Mass Gathering Surveillance System, which has been updated and expanded specifically to support public health monitoring during Carnival and other upcoming large events in SVG. To put the new integrated systems to the test, mission participants carried out Tingua, a simulation exercise built for the Caribbean context that brought together cross-sector teams including human and animal health experts, environmental specialists, and emergency management responders. The exercise challenged teams to respond to multiple overlapping public health emergencies, testing their coordinated preparedness ahead of real-world events.

    The mission wrapped up with two high-level debriefing sessions led by CARPHA Executive Director Dr. Lisa Indar. Senior SVG government leaders attended the sessions, including the Deputy Prime Minister for National Security, the Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Energy, permanent secretaries from the health, national security, and tourism ministries, the Chief Medical Officer, and senior technical staff.

    In her remarks following the debrief, Dr. Indar emphasized that SVG’s commitment to fully institutionalizing RIEWSS sets a critical precedent for health security across the Caribbean. She noted that the achievement aligns with CARPHA’s core strategic focus on building resilient, cross-regional public health systems that can adapt to emerging threats.

    Looking ahead, CARPHA confirmed that SVG’s successful implementation creates a replicable roadmap for all other OECS member states that plan to adopt the system in coming months. The agency will continue providing ongoing technical assistance to help SVG sustain its new systems, expand their use over time, and contribute to stronger collective health resilience across the entire Caribbean sub-region.

  • FAES/MSPP : Signing of a MoU to strengthen access to essential health services

    FAES/MSPP : Signing of a MoU to strengthen access to essential health services

    In a significant push to upgrade Haiti’s ailing public health system, Haiti’s Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) and the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) formalized a new partnership this week with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that paves the way for two major Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded health initiatives.

    The agreement, signed by FAES Director General Kesner Romilus and MSPP Minister Bertrand Sinal, outlines clear operational guidelines for the launch of the Community Program for the Promotion of Human Security in Haiti (project code HA-J0008) and Restoring Access to Essential Health Services (project code HA-J0012), both backed by IDB grant financing. The document codifies the respective roles and responsibilities of the two agencies, lays out standardized protocols for technical oversight, cross-institutional coordination, and progress reporting, and sets binding conditions for all health-focused program activities.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Sinal highlighted that the agreement represents a core priority for the Haitian government, and thanked FAES for its collaborative efforts to advance the initiative. Under the two programs, a series of critical health infrastructure upgrades are set to move forward, including capacity expansions and renovations for Haiti’s university-level and departmental hospitals, as well as local District Health Units (UAS). The MoU also explicitly authorizes FAES to lead construction and rehabilitation work on healthcare facilities across the country, aligned with the terms of the original financing agreements with the IDB.

    A key focus of the initiative is addressing the longstanding shortage of frontline healthcare workers that has crippled service delivery across Haiti. Sinal confirmed that the new program budget allocates funding for the recruitment of roughly 2,000 additional Multipurpose Community Health Workers (ASCPs), on top of the 3,000 healthcare staff already hired by the ministry through the Office of the Prime Minister.

    Structured around existing grant agreements between the Haitian government and the IDB, the new MoU is designed to streamline the two programs by integrating their activities under a unified institutional framework, eliminating redundant processes and strengthening collaborative ties between FAES and MSPP. Per the agreement, FAES will serve as the official implementing agency for both projects, leveraging its existing institutional mandate and operational experience to deliver results.

    At its core, the partnership aims to build long-term institutional capacity to meet the unmet essential needs of Haiti’s health system, with targeted investments in three core areas: healthcare infrastructure, community-focused primary services, and expanded human resources.

    With the formal signing complete, FAES and MSPP are now set to shift toward translating this institutional commitment into tangible, on-the-ground impact, continuing to work closely with the IDB to adhere to the implementation protocols laid out in the agreement.

  • Nurses urged to make compassion a cornerstone of patient care

    Nurses urged to make compassion a cornerstone of patient care

    The nursing profession is rooted in more than just clinical expertise, and the top leader of Dominica’s national nursing organization is reminding healthcare workers across the Caribbean island of that fundamental truth. In an official public statement released on August 26, 2026, Joanna Laurent-Blaize, President of the Dominica Nurses Association and a practicing registered nurse, has issued a clear appeal to all nurses and frontline healthcare staff across the country: prioritize compassionate, dignified care alongside professional medical treatment for every patient.

    Laurent-Blaize’s call specifically targets workers in all hospital and community health center settings, where patients facing illness or injury often find themselves in uniquely vulnerable positions. Beyond physical discomfort, many patients grapple with fear, uncertainty, and disorientation during medical visits or extended stays, making emotional reassurance just as critical as evidence-based treatment to positive health outcomes, she argues.

    Against the often high-stress, high-pressure backdrop of modern healthcare, Laurent-Blaize encourages nurses, ward aides and all patient-facing staff to uphold empathetic engagement with the people they serve, no matter what challenging circumstances they may face during their shifts. She emphasizes that the communication style and responsiveness of healthcare workers leave a lasting imprint on a patient’s entire care journey and can directly shape their mental and physical well-being throughout treatment and recovery.

    One key point of Laurent-Blaize’s statement pushes back against a widespread but harmful cultural misconception: the idea that demonstrating compassion toward patients is a sign of professional weakness. Re-framing this narrative, she asserts that empathy is instead a marker of professional strength, and an non-negotiable core quality of the nursing field. Her message closes with a clear call to action: all healthcare workers across Dominica must keep empathy, respect, and genuine kindness at the center of every patient interaction.

  • 7.4% of children in Haiti suffer from acute malnutrition (survey)

    7.4% of children in Haiti suffer from acute malnutrition (survey)

    Haiti is facing a deepening public health emergency for its youngest population, according to newly released preliminary data from the 2026 SMART National Nutrition Survey. Published on August 28, the national study tracks a concerning upward trend in acute malnutrition among Haitian children between the ages of 6 and 59 months, with prevalence jumping from 5.1% recorded in the 2023 survey to 7.4% in 2026. Acute malnutrition, categorized as either moderate or severe wasting, or nutritional edema, develops when children lack consistent access to nutrient-dense food and face repeated bouts of illness, and it can turn fatal rapidly without timely, targeted treatment. Children living with severe acute malnutrition face drastically elevated mortality risks, particularly when compounded by preventable illness and lack of access to basic medical care. Yannig Dussart, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Haiti, framed the troubling new figures against the backdrop of systemic instability that has paralyzed daily life across the Caribbean nation. “These results come against a backdrop of persistent insecurity, economic hardship, and humanitarian needs that continue to limit families’ access to adequate nutritious food, healthcare, and nutrition services,” Dussart explained. He emphasized that coordinated, urgent intervention from global and local stakeholders is non-negotiable to guarantee Haitian children access to life-saving nutritional support. The report also notes a alarming escalation in violations of children’s basic rights over the past three years: between 2023 and 2025, serious abuses including deliberate denial of humanitarian access, and targeted attacks on schools and healthcare facilities that provide nutritional services to children, tripled in frequency. Against this grim overall trend, the 2026 survey did document measurable progress on key long-term nutritional indicators. Prevalence of chronic malnutrition, also known as stunting, among children under five fell from 22.8% in 2023 to 17.3% this year. Rates of early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth rose from 48% to 68%, while the share of infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months more than doubled from 17.5% to 33%. Currently, UNICEF and its humanitarian partners are collaborating with Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health to expand access to life-saving nutritional screening and treatment services. This expansion relies heavily on community health workers and mobile medical teams that are deployed to hard-to-reach regions and areas facing persistent insecurity. A full, final analysis of the 2026 survey data, paired with an official Integrated Food Security Phase Classification for Acute Malnutrition (IPC-AMN), is scheduled for publication next month. The combined assessment will shape the strategic direction of ongoing humanitarian and long-term development responses to the crisis. To address the rapidly worsening nutritional emergency, UNICEF has issued an urgent funding appeal as part of its 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) initiative. The organization currently faces a 64% funding gap for its nutrition interventions across Haiti. With sufficient financial support, UNICEF and its local partners can scale up life-saving care, protect vulnerable children from the irreversible long-term impacts of malnutrition, and deliver urgent care to the children at highest risk across the country.

  • Most CDAP drugs accessible

    Most CDAP drugs accessible

    Public health officials in Trinidad and Tobago are moving to resolve ongoing supply gaps for chronic disease and cancer medications distributed through the country’s Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP), Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe has confirmed. In a recent statement responding to mounting public concerns, the minister stressed that the vast majority of prescription drugs covered under the public health programme remain fully accessible to patients who rely on the scheme for ongoing care.

    Over the past several weeks, patients and their family members have renewed public outcry over repeated stockouts at public health facilities and registered CDAP dispensing pharmacies, with critical drugs for chronic conditions and cancer treatment among those affected by unavailability. These complaints have reignited broader questions about the stability of the nation’s pharmaceutical supply chain and the speed at which depleted stocks of life-saving medications are replenished.

    Speaking to local outlet *Express* in response to media queries, Bodoe reaffirmed that ensuring a steady, adequate supply of necessary medications is one of the current government’s top public health priorities. “I have taken note of some complaints in the public domain regarding shortages of medication,” Bodoe shared via phone.

    The minister added that systemic challenges around procurement and supply chain management were already in place when he assumed leadership of the Ministry of Health, but that incremental, consistent progress is being made to shore up processes. This includes enhanced oversight of existing contractual agreements with the National Procurement and Disposal End User Corporation (Nipdec), the public body responsible for pharmaceutical procurement in the country. Bodoe also noted that regional health authorities have been granted autonomy to resolve immediate shortages through emergency, ad hoc purchasing arrangements. “Steps are being taken to address those medicines identified as short in supply,” he said.

    Issues with pharmaceutical availability and procurement are not new for Trinidad and Tobago’s public health system, with recurring disruptions stretching back years. During a 2024 parliamentary enquiry by the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee into the sufficiency of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical supplies, lawmakers learned that of the 526 operating pharmacies across the country, only 231 held official authorization to dispense CDAP medications. At that time, an additional 46 pharmacies were in the process of completing CDAP registration, and the hearing also raised multiple red flags around drug supply and inventory management.

    Prior to taking on the role of Health Minister, Bodoe — then an opposition member of the parliamentary committee — highlighted complaints from pharmacy owners that many CDAP-supplied drugs arrived with only a short window remaining before expiration. Nipdec officials responded at the time that the official standard required a minimum of 18 months of shelf life for all delivered medications.

    Shortly after assuming the health portfolio in July 2025, Bodoe announced that a full systemic review of CDAP had been finalized, with proposed reform plans currently under consideration by the Cabinet. Key proposed changes include expanding the programme’s coverage to include more medications and lowering cost burdens for participating pharmacies that dispense CDAP drugs to patients.

    Public concern around procurement inefficiencies and pharmaceutical waste has grown in recent months. In December 2025, Bodoe disclosed that roughly $80 million worth of medications had expired before they could be used over a 10-year period. The revelation prompted Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to order Nipdec to produce a full public report on pharmaceutical storage protocols nationwide. The government has also signaled it plans to open up the market by increasing the number of licensed pharmaceutical importers and suppliers, a move intended to boost market competition and drive down prescription drug costs for public health programmes and patients.

  • Dominica Nurses Association marks 69 years of service to healthcare

    Dominica Nurses Association marks 69 years of service to healthcare

    For nearly seven decades, the Dominica Nurses Association (DNA) has stood as a cornerstone of the island nation’s healthcare infrastructure, and this year, the organization is pausing to celebrate 69 years of unwavering commitment to patient care, professional advocacy, and community well-being across Dominica.

    From its earliest days, the association has built a legacy rooted in more than just clinical treatment: it has supported generations of nursing professionals, strengthened the island’s healthcare delivery system, and championed the critical role nurses play in keeping Dominican communities healthy. This 69-year milestone offers both a moment of celebration and an opportunity to reflect on the evolving, indispensable work of the association and its members.

    Joanna Laurent-Blaize, a registered nurse and current president of the Dominica Nurses Association, shared her reflections on the organization’s journey and the enduring value of nursing in modern patient care. In her remarks, Laurent-Blaize noted that the scope of a nurse’s responsibility extends far beyond treating physical illness. Patients and their families rely on nurses for steady psychological and emotional support during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, a core function of the profession that remains as critical today as it was 69 years ago.

    Even as medical technology advances and the nursing profession adapts to new public health challenges, Laurent-Blaize emphasized that genuine compassion remains the defining, non-negotiable quality at the heart of the field. As the association marks its 69th anniversary, the celebration is as much a tribute to the individual nurses who have served over the decades as it is a recognition of the systemic impact the DNA has had on the daily lives of people across Dominica.

    For nearly 70 years, the association’s work has shaped both the nursing profession and the health outcomes of the island, leaving a lasting, positive imprint that continues to benefit communities today.

  • Bernard Rejects Cuban Doctors’ Departure Claims

    Bernard Rejects Cuban Doctors’ Departure Claims

    In a public clarification issued on August 27, 2026, Belize’s Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard has pushed back against recent allegations that the Briceño administration is forcing Cuban medical professionals serving in the country to return to Cuba. The controversy erupted earlier this week when opposition figure Wil Maheia claimed on social media that shipping containers holding the personal effects of Cuban doctors were being sent back to the island nation, implying a forced exit of the long-serving medical contingent.

    Bernard labeled Maheia’s claims as irresponsible and taken completely out of context during a press briefing Thursday morning. He explained that the routine annual vacation cycle for Cuban doctors assigned to Belize is the actual reason for the shipments of personal items. Since the brigade’s members take staggered leave throughout the year to avoid straining local healthcare services, it is common practice for doctors to bring personal gifts and belongings back to family members in Cuba when they travel home for breaks. Contrary to the narrative spread online, Bernard stressed that the government has not ordered any forced departures of Cuban medical staff, who remain fully employed and active across Belize’s public health system.

    While the claims of forced exit have been officially refuted, the long-term future of the Cuban medical brigade in Belize remains unresolved as bilateral diplomatic negotiations between the two countries continue. Bernard confirmed that ongoing discussions are addressing the terms of the brigade’s continued service, and he expects a final decision to be presented to the Belizean Cabinet for approval by September 2026. Both the Cuban medical contingent and the Belizean government are seeking a mutually amicable resolution that preserves the brigade’s contributions, he added, noting that the administration greatly values the support Cuban doctors have provided to Belize’s healthcare system over the years.

    To prepare for any outcome of the diplomatic talks, the Ministry of Health has been moving forward with long-standing plans to strengthen Belize’s domestic medical workforce. The government has invested in advanced specialty training for local doctors, with five physicians currently set to return to the country after completing programs abroad: two in nephrology, two in obstetrics, and one in pediatrics. A pediatric oncologist, Dr. Cawich, has already completed her training and begun work at the country’s main public hospital, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), while additional local doctors are training in radiology and other specialties in Taiwan. Bernard also confirmed that the administration is exploring alternative sources of medical personnel to supplement domestic capacity, including ongoing talks to recruit qualified healthcare professionals from the Philippines to serve in Belize.

    Across all contingency planning, Bernard emphasized that the government’s top priority is to guarantee uninterrupted access to essential healthcare services for all Belizean citizens, no matter what the final outcome of the diplomatic negotiations on the Cuban medical brigade.

  • Belmopan’s University Hospital Stalled Three Years Later

    Belmopan’s University Hospital Stalled Three Years Later

    It has been three full years since the government of Belize secured a $43 million development loan from Saudi Arabia for a flagship public health infrastructure project, but the proposed University Hospital in Belmopan has yet to move past the planning phase, leaving the long-awaited facility in limbo for residents across the country.

    The Briceño administration first secured the Saudi financing back in 2023, rolling out the project with bold promises of a state-of-the-art combined medical care and academic training facility that would address critical gaps in Belize’s national healthcare system. Three years on, however, not a single shovel has hit the ground, and slow bureaucratic progress has left many Belizeans questioning when, or if, the project will ever come to fruition.

    When pressed for details on the delays, Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard acknowledged the extended timeline but reaffirmed that administrative steps are still moving forward, with an official groundbreaking targeted before the close of 2026.

    “From what I have been updated, progress is ongoing,” Bernard shared in a recent on-air interview. “The Saudi side has already launched the design tender process. We are currently at the stage where we have narrowed the competition down to two bidding entities, and full contract bids will be issued to those parties soon. I do not want to overpromise, but my hope is that we can break ground by the end of this year and get actual construction underway – that is the goal we are working toward.”

    Once completed, the 150-bed facility is set to fill a critical role in Belize’s healthcare ecosystem: it will operate as the country’s new national referral hospital, managing complex cases that cannot be treated at smaller regional facilities, while also providing hands-on clinical training for medical students enrolled at the University of Belize. The project has been hailed as a transformative investment for Belizean public health since it was first announced, but extended delays have left communities waiting for the improved access and training opportunities it was promised to deliver.

  • Belize & Honduras Explore Medical Exchange

    Belize & Honduras Explore Medical Exchange

    Across Central America, shared healthcare workforce challenges are pushing neighboring nations to explore collaborative solutions, with Belize and Honduras the latest to advance cross-border cooperation in the medical sector. During an official state visit led by Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño to Honduras in late August 2026, Belize’s Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard tabled a proposal for a bilateral medical exchange memorandum of understanding (MOU), building on a 1995 existing agreement between the two countries that covers cultural and educational exchanges.

    Unlike one-sided recruitment arrangements that target medical workers from lower-resource nations, the proposed partnership is designed as a mutual exchange that addresses shared pain points: both Belize and Honduras face critical shortages of skilled healthcare personnel, a systemic challenge that impacts nearly all countries across the Central American region. For Belize, the arrangement would create structured pathways for the country’s medical graduates to complete residency training in Honduras’ established medical education system, while creating opportunities for knowledge sharing and specialized skills development that are harder to access domestically. For Honduras, the partnership would similarly open doors for its own healthcare professionals to gain experience and insights from Belize’s healthcare system, creating reciprocal benefits for both sides.

    Bernard explained that the proposed exchange would go beyond simple workforce movement, enabling the two countries to share clinical expertise, deliver joint specialized training programs, and expand access to advanced medical services for patients in both nations. At this early stage of negotiations, formal talks between technical working teams from both health departments have not yet been scheduled, as policymakers focus on framing the parameters of the partnership before advancing to detailed implementation planning. Bernard noted that discussions are still in the preliminary phase, with leaders working to align on how the program will operate to strengthen healthcare delivery for populations on both sides of the border.

    This initiative reflects a growing regional trend of neighboring countries collaborating to address common healthcare workforce challenges, rather than pursuing individual, zero-sum solutions that leave lower-resource nations further disadvantaged. By framing the partnership as a mutual exchange rather than one-way recruitment, leaders are aiming to create a sustainable model that strengthens health systems across the region.