The new PAHO/WHO Representative visits Medical Mission in Suriname

Paramaribo, Suriname, March 14, 2023 (PAHO/WHO) – The site visit by the PAHO/WHO Representative (PWR) Dr. Lilian Reneau-Vernon to the Medical Mission in Paramaribo, Suriname was an important step in strengthening the partnership between the two organizations. The visit provided an opportunity for the PWR to get an overview of the work being done by the Medical Mission and to identify areas for further collaboration. The purpose of the visit was an introduction and orientation meeting for future visits to remote outpatient clinics in Suriname.

During the orientation meeting, the PAHO/WHO Representative was provided with an overview of the Medical Mission's primary healthcare model by Deputy Director of Medical Mission Dr. Maureen Wijngaarde-van Dijk, which includes the training of healthcare assistants from the communities. These assistants engage in health promotion activities, provide treatment for common ailments, and rehabilitation services under the supervision of doctors. The primary healthcare model is an integrated approach that takes into account the social determinants of health and seeks to provide comprehensive and holistic care to the population.

The PAHO/WHO Representative also had the opportunity to learn about the challenges faced by the Medical Mission in providing healthcare services to remote communities. The partnership between PAHO/WHO and Medical Mission Suriname is of great importance, as the latter has been providing quality healthcare to hard-to-reach communities in the interior of Suriname for almost 300 years. The Medical Mission operates 51 clinics in the districts of Brokopondo and Sipaliwini, which cover an area of 130,000 square kilometers and serve approximately 54,000 people, mainly indigenous (Amerindian), tribal (Maroon), and migrant populations (gold miners and forestry workers).

About Medical Mission

Driven by Christian Principles, the Medical Mission Primary Health Care Suriname has been providing quality health care to the hard-to-reach communities in the interior of Suriname for almost 300 years. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) has collaborated with the Medical Mission in many ways over the years, ensuring that vulnerable groups, especially in remote areas, have access to quality health care and are not left behind.