Dr. Jean Paul Chaine was packing up his things last Friday in his office at the Commonwealth Health Center when Reps. Ralph DLG. Torres and Joseph C. Reyes asked for a few minutes of his time to hand him a copy of the House resolution honoring his contributions to the many important healthcare programs of the CNMI.
The lawmakers acknowledged Chaine’s instrumental role in introducing the HVP vaccines and other preventive shots in the commonwealth.
The CNMI, the lawmakers said, “has had the pleasure hosting Chaine,” as a resident regional epidemiologist of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The 68-year-old epidemiologist also worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development, the World Health Organizations and the Peace Corps.
He spent nine years in Phonpei.
In the CNMI, Chaine worked closely with Public Health’s immunization program and relayed facts to CDC about disease outbreaks in the region.
Now that Chaine has left the island, local epidemiologist, Ed Diaz will also have to contact the CDC in Atlanta in case of an outbreak in the CNMI.
But Chaine, in an interview, said the Secretariat of the Pacific Community has regional health programs that will assist the islands.
He said it was pleasure to work in the CNMI.
According to Chaine, he enjoyed his time in the CNMI, met very good friends and felt good about working here.
