Ottawa, Canada, 30 April 2026 (PAHO)— The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, concluded a three-day visit to Canada from 27 to 29 April, marked by the regional launch of Vaccination Week in the Americas and a series of high-level engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation to improve health across Latin America and the Caribbean while also protecting the health of Canadians.
The visit began with the official launch of the 24th Vaccination Week in the Americas in Ottawa, the first time the regional initiative has been inaugurated in Canada. The campaign calls for renewed action to close persistent immunization gaps, as countries in the Region respond to rising measles cases and work to reach more than 7.2 million children with zero or incomplete vaccination.
“Vaccination Week is an emblematic initiative that unites our Region around a shared purpose: protecting lives through immunization,” Dr. Barbosa said during the launch.
High-level engagements with Canadian authorities
During his visit, Dr. Barbosa met with Canada’s Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel, to discuss shared priorities, including strengthening immunization programs, addressing vaccine hesitancy, advancing mental health integration into primary care, and expanding regional vaccine production capacity, as well as progress on disease elimination efforts such as trachoma and strengthening sexual and reproductive health in Latin America and the Caribbean, areas supported by Canada’s cooperation with PAHO.
He also met with Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State for International Development, to discuss reinforcing the longstanding PAHO–Canada partnership and advancing cooperation on health system resilience, disease elimination, and equitable access to services across the Americas.
Engagements with senior public health leaders, including Nancy Hamzawi, President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Joss Reimer, Chief Public Health Officer, focused on strengthening collaboration in areas such as outbreak response, laboratory systems, and building public confidence in vaccines, particularly in the context of recent measles outbreaks.
Partnerships and collaboration for regional health
Throughout the visit, Dr. Barbosa also met with representatives from Global Affairs Canada, as well as Canadian research institutions, development partners, and private sector stakeholders, to explore opportunities for expanded collaboration. Discussions highlighted Canada’s role in supporting regional priorities such as disease elimination, health system strengthening, and access to vaccines and technologies through PAHO’s pooled procurement mechanisms.
A high-level roundtable with public and private sector stakeholders provided an opportunity to present PAHO’s Revolving Funds and explore how Canada’s innovation and biomanufacturing capabilities can support more resilient regional supply chains. As the only pooled procurement mechanism of its kind in the world, the Revolving Funds offer a platform to expand access to vaccines, medicines, and health technologies, while fostering strategic partnerships and regional manufacturing.
Dr. Barbosa also expressed appreciation for Canada’s recent humanitarian assistance, including support to Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica.
Engagement with Parliament and Senate on regional health cooperation
In Parliament, the PAHO Director engaged with members of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas—the parliamentary network that brings together legislators from across the Americas—as well as Canadian legislators, on the critical role of public policy decisions in shaping health outcomes in the Region. He emphasized that, in an interconnected hemisphere, Canada’s health security is closely linked to that of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Dr. Barbosa also met with several Canadian senators, including Stan Kutcher, Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, and Peter Boehm, recognizing Canada’s leadership in advancing regional health initiatives, including immunization, disease elimination, and support for vulnerable populations.
The visit concluded with Dr. Barbosa’s appearance before the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, where he underscored the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing shared health challenges. He highlighted that recent regional outbreaks—including dengue and avian influenza—demonstrate that health threats do not respect borders and require coordinated responses.
Longstanding partnership between Canada and PAHO
Canada has been a key partner of PAHO for more than 55 years, supporting initiatives that strengthen health systems, expand access to care, and advance disease elimination across the Americas. Canada is PAHO’s largest contributor, with more than CAD 175 million provided since 2021 to support health worker training, the development of clinical protocols, vaccination infrastructure, and targeted programs across Latin America and the Caribbean. These efforts contribute not only to improved health outcomes in the Region but also to enhanced health security for Canadians.
“Canada’s leadership and engagement are essential to advancing health for all in the Americas,” Dr. Barbosa said. “By working together, we can build more resilient systems and better protect our populations from current and future health threats.”
Cristina Mitchell
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