The OECS Commission and World Pediatrics Sign Landmark MoU to Strengthen Child Healthcare

OECS MEDIA RELEASE

January 26, 2026

Delivering on OECS Strategic Priority 5: To advance equity and inclusion by reducing disparities in health, education and social outcomes, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission continues to champion initiatives that improve the quality of healthcare in the region by formalising a strategic partnership with World Pediatrics.

On January 22, 2026, the OECS and World Pediatrics signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at OECS Headquarters in Castries, Saint Lucia. The MoU establishes a framework for regional coordination and alignment to strengthen clinical delivery, including paediatric surgical missions, specialised clinics and improved referral pathways.

The MoU places strong emphasis on capacity building, education and training to support sustainable improvements within health systems. It recognises the critical role of research, data and monitoring in guiding evidence-based policies and investment decisions. Furthermore, the landmark agreement advances resource mobilisation as well as strategic partnerships and underscores the role of advocacy, communication and awareness. The formalised partnership pivotally recognises that improving child health is not only a clinical task but a societal one.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director General of the OECS, His Excellency Dr Didacus Jules, expressed appreciation to World Pediatrics for the formalisation of the partnership and its longstanding commitment to the region.

"For over two decades, World Pediatrics has demonstrated what it means to combine clinical excellence with compassion, and service delivery with sustainable capacity building. Your presence in the Eastern Caribbean, your investment in regional hubs, and your collaboration with our Ministries of Health and clinical teams have already transformed lives and strengthened systems. The OECS, guided by its mandate under the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, remains firmly committed to regional cooperation as a pathway to improved quality of life for our people. In the health sector, this means pooling expertise, harmonising approaches, and addressing shared challenges together, particularly in areas where no single small state can act effectively on its own. Child health, and especially access to specialised paediatric services, is one such area."

The Chief Executive Officer of World Pediatrics, Mr Vafa Akhavan, endorsed the partnership as a significant step forward for child health in the region and emphasised World Pediatrics' alignment with the OECS.

"That's the beauty of being like-minded, that's the beauty of a common purpose. It is that you will understand what it takes, and therefore the language becomes the same, and the mindset becomes the same, and the framework becomes the same, and that's the guidance that we are so excited about in this partnership. The guidance of the OECS in translating this MoU into specific lines of action that we can take and make sure we are monitoring them; make sure we are qualifying them, make sure that we are impacting the lives of children. We believe at World Pediatrics when you impact the lives of the children you are impacting the lives of the family, and therefore by aggregate, the community. They become the future decision makers of our nations, of our regions, of the world, and so children are the strategic imperative of every generation because they grow up to be the future decision makers."

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Head, Development Cooperation and Resource Mobilisation Unit, OECS Commission, Ms Nadege Jn. Baptiste highlighted the role of strategic partnerships in mobilising resources and sustaining impact.

"Today's ceremony builds on productive engagement between our institutions, including the visit of the Chief Executive Officer of World Pediatrics to the OECS Headquarters in November 2025, which helped pave the way for this partnership."

The ceremony was officially brought to a close by Mrs Lisa Sargusingh-Terrance, Senior Technical Specialist-Education, OECS Commission. Delivering closing remarks on behalf of the Head, Human and Social Division, OECS Commission, Mrs Sisera Simon, she concluded the ceremony by stating:

"This partnership embodies our joint vision for accessible, high-quality paediatric care and stronger health systems. It is a testament to what can be achieved when organisations work together with purpose and trust."

The signing ceremony was attended by senior representatives of World Pediatrics, which include the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Vafa Akhavan, Executive Director, Caribbean, Ms Lauren McIntosh-Shallow, and Country Representative, Saint Lucia, Ms Lovelyn Butcher. Also present and representing the OECS Commission, were the Director General of the OECS, H.E. Dr Didacus Jules, the Head, Development Cooperation and Resource Mobilisation Unit, Ms Nadege Jn. Baptiste, the Head, Human and Social Division, OECS Commission, Mrs Sisera Simon, and staff of the OECS Commission from relevant portfolios.

Through this MoU, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and World Pediatrics will work together to elevate paediatric health as a shared priority, strengthening regional capacity and supporting sustainable health outcomes for children throughout the OECS region.