A legacy for future generations
Tuesday 2 July 2013, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Apia, Samoa –
Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, called on Pacific Health Ministers to
make important decisions for the health of all Pacific people during the opening ceremony of the Tenth Pacific Health
Ministers Meeting (PHMM) in Apia, Samoa this morning.
Delegates from about 20 Pacific Island countries are attending the meeting, which is being held from 2 to 4 July 2013.
‘You have the opportunity this week not only to build on the legacy established 18 years ago by your predecessors that
gave birth to the Yanuca Island Declaration and the healthy islands concept, but you have the opportunity to leave
behind your own legacy upon which the future of health development in our region can be firmly founded,’ said Dr
Rodgers.
Dr Rogers called on Health Ministers to consider developing an overarching framework for health development in the
Pacific and establishing an annual regional meeting of directors and secretaries of health to advise on strategic policy
issues relating to health development in the region, as well as a regional architecture and governance process for PHMM
that links it more directly to the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
‘Honourable Ministers it is not often during one’s tenure in political life that a range of opportunities present
themselves which if taken can translate into huge increases in the status and quality of a service, or a system for our
communities, our nations, or our region.
‘Decisions you make on these key issues will have far-reaching benefits for the future – a legacy worth leaving behind
for our future generations, and one we can all be proud of,’ said Dr Rodgers.
ends