Michael Perry Gomez | |
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![]() Gomez in 2013 | |
Minister of Health | |
In office 12 May 2012 – 11 May 2017 | |
Prime Minister | Perry Christie |
Preceded by | Hubert Minnis |
Succeeded by | Duane Sands |
Member of the House of Assembly of the Bahamas for North Andros & Berry Islands | |
In office 12 May 2012 – 11 May 2017 | |
Personal details | |
Born | New Providence, Bahamas | 18 January 1947
Died | 21 October 2023 | (aged 76)
Political party | Progressive Liberal Party |
Michael Perry Gomez (18 January 1947 – 21 October 2023) was a Bahamian politician, who served as Minister of Health and as member for North Andros & Berry Islands in the House of Assembly of the Bahamas. [1] First elected to the legislature in the 2012 election after defeating Education Minister Desmond Bannister by a margin of 24 votes, [1] he was appointed by Prime Minister Perry Christie to be Minister of Health.
Gomez was born on New Providence and graduated from the University of the West Indies with a degree in medicine in 1971. He then attended medical school at Wayne State University where he specialized in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. [2]
Gomez was known globally for his work on HIV/AIDS research, being the founder and director of the National HIV Programme of the Bahamas. Under his direction, the Programme had a major impact on decreasing the spread of the disease. HIV transmission rates in the Bahamas declined by more than 30 percent and HIV transmission from mother-to-child also decreased dramatically. Seventy-two percent of all persons with advanced HIV receive requisite treatment and all persons with HIV and TB co-infection receive full treatment for both conditions. [1]
Perry Gomez died on 21 October 2023, at the age of 76. [3]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PLP | Perry Gomez | 1,192 | 48.75 | −4.92 | |
FNM | Desmond Bannister | 1,168 | 47.77 | +1.44 | |
Democratic National Alliance | Randy Butler | 85 | 3.48 | +3.48 | |
Majority | 24 | 0.98 | −6.37 | ||
Turnout | 2,445 | 93.53 | |||
PLP hold | Swing | -6.37 |