The Bahamas becomes first CARICOM member to join Primary Health Care Alliance

The Bahamas has formally joined the Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas, a regional initiative led by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter‑American Development Bank and the World Bank. The accession, confirmed during a hybrid signing ceremony in Nassau, makes the Bahamas the first CARICOM country to become a member.

The new membership establishes a Primary Health Care Consultative Mechanism, a platform headed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to coordinate investments, technical cooperation and innovation with national health priorities. Health Minister Michael Darville said the partnership will align expertise and funding with the Bahamas National Health Strategy and accelerate transformation of the health system. PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa highlighted the significance of the Bahamas’ entry for extending the Alliance’s benefits across the Caribbean.