The 77th PIHOA Executive Board Meeting Recap, Part 1: Opening Ceremony Highlights and Day One Reflections

Majuro, RMI - The 77^th PIHOA Executive Board Meeting (EBM) officially kicked off on a high note last week, bringing together Pacific health leaders from American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau for a week of collaboration, reflection, and strategic planning.



The morning began with a heartfelt spiritual devotion, followed by inspiring welcoming remarks from PIHOA Interim President Theresa Arriola, Director of the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services, followed by keynote remarks from the Honorable Minister Ota Kisino, the RMI Minister of Health and Human Services (MOHHS). 

PIHOA Interim President Arriola extended her gratitude and appreciation to the RMI government’s health and executive leadership for their warm welcome and co-hosting of the 77th PIHOA EBM, and appreciation for the presence and show commitment to health to the local RMI MOHHS staff, partners, and foreign dignitaries present, including the Honorable Minister David Paul, RMI Minister of Foreign Affairs, standing in on behalf of Her Excellency Hilda Heine, RMI President; Commissioner Natalie Nimmer, Commissioner of the RMI Ministry of Education; the Australian Ambassador to the RMI, the Honorable Paul Wilson; the US Embassy’s Policy and Economics Advisor (POLECON), Nathan Anderson; the Embassy of Taiwan’s First Secretary, David C. H. Lin; UNICEF Representative, Dr. Abba Umar, and UNICEF’s Social and Behavior Change Specialist, Pius Attandoh. 

The Honorable Minister Kisino highlighted the continued critical importance of the Pacific region to stand together to ensure strong collaborations and regional dialogue to address our shared health priorities and chronic challenges, especially non-communicable disease (NCDs) and health workforce shortages.



The Opening Ceremony also included a deeply inspirational and interactive cultural presentation by the College of the Marshall Islands’ Youth Leadership Council, who delivered a powerful message underscoring the importance of investing in the next generation of youth leaders across the Pacific and that youth play a vital role to ensure to the health and well-being of our island communities. The Opening Ceremony ended with a local Marshallese song and facilitated group dance stressing the importance of physical activity and eating locally grown traditional foods to prevent NCDs.

In the afternoon, PIHOA Board members shifted into strategic planning sessions – reflecting on PIHOA’s 40 years of service to the region and charting a course to strengthen local and regional health systems for the decades ahead and towards more healthier and resilient island communities.



The day concluded with a dinner hosted by the RMI MOHHS for the PIHOA Board – a time to connect, recharge, and strengthen fellowship and friendship.

PIHOA extends its deep appreciation to the RMI’s Office of the President and the RMI Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS), most especially the Honorable Minister of Health and Human Services, Ota Kisino, and Secretary of Health and Human Services, Francyne Wase-Jacklick, for their unwavering support and partnership for hosting a successful 77^th EBM.

This work is supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through OT21-2101: Strengthening the Public Health Systems in the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.