Official funeral commemorates Dominican-born Dr. Carissa Etienne, former PAHO head
Today, Dominica held a live broadcast to pay tribute to Dr. Carissa Etienne, the former director of the leading health organization in the Americas, as part of her funeral proceedings.
Etienne, hailing from Dominica, fulfilled the role of Director for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and served as the Regional Director for the Americas at the World Health Organization (WHO) from February 2013 until January 2023.
“Carissa was a dear friend and colleague, and under her steadfast leadership and guidance, PAHO achieved significant milestones for the region of the Americas while facing one of our greatest public health challenges with COVID-19,” PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa said in a press release. “I am very saddened by her passing, and my thoughts are with her family, friends and all of us at PAHO who cared deeply for her.”
PAHO wrote: “During Dr. Etienne’s tenure, PAHO led the response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic in the region of the Americas, as well as efforts to control Zika and chikungunya epidemics and cholera and yellow fever outbreaks in Haiti and Brazil, while significantly improving the Organization’s response to emergencies and disasters within 48 hours.”
“Under her leadership, the Americas eliminated the endemic transmission of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome, and made considerable strides in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. Legislative and regulatory mechanisms gained traction, as countries enacted legislation on the labelling of food products and introduced taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages,” the organization added.
“Dr. Etienne led Dominica to a place of distinction in the provision of primary health care to our citizens,” Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit stated in a previous press conference. “She was very much involved in the primary healthcare program.”
He added, “Among Dominicans, I think she will be remembered best for her work at the local level as a physician and public health administrator and certainly for her kindness, warmth and love for people.”
Watch the live viewing here: