Former Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa Etienne, has died.

The 71-year-old health expert passed away this morning (December 1), in the United States.

Dr. Etienne, a native of Dominica, served as director of PAHO and World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Americas from February 2013 to January 2023.

During her tenure, she led the regional response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, as well as efforts to control zika and chikungunya epidemics and cholera and yellow fever outbreaks in Haiti and Brazil.

Reacting to her passing, Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton noted that Dr. Etienne dedicated her life to public health for many years.