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| Minister of Health, Donville Inniss, in conversation with Ambassador Xu during the courtesy call. (A. Gaskin/BGIS) |
Though Barbados and China recently celebrated 35 years of diplomatic relations, Ambassador Xu Hong and Minister of Health, Donville Inniss, today agreed that more could be done at the bilateral level in the area of health.??????????????????
During a courtesy call today at the Ministry’s Culloden Road office, Mr. Inniss noted that the two countries maintained a cordial relationship, particularly at the World Health Organization level.?? However, his Ministry was keen on establishing stronger ties with the People’s Republic of China.?? The Health Minister noted that assistance would be appreciated in strengthening the Ministry’s primary health care facilities, including the upgrading of equipment, and in addressing the need for accommodation of a growing aging population.
He also informed Ambassador Xu that he proposed to attend and speak at the 8th Annual China Health Forum 2012 to be held in Beijing from August 16 to 18.?? Ambassador Xu agreed that this would provide Mr. Inniss with an opportunity to see how China’s health sector was responding to changes in the macroeconomic environment, while deepening health reform.?? The theme of the conference is Deepening Health Reform, Improving Prevention & Control of NCDs and Pursuing Sustainable Health Development.??
Also present at the meeting was Parliamentary Secretary, Senator Irene Sandifor-Garner; Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary, Daphne Kellman; and Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Elizabeth Ferdinand.