Perry Gomez

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. First elected to the legislature in the 2012 election after defeating Education Minister Desmond Bannister by a margin of 24 votes, he was appointed by Prime Minister Perry Christie to be Minister of Health.

Early life
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.

Career
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.

Death
Perry Gomez died on 21 October 2023, at the age of 76.