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By Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) hosted the first Regional Stakeholders Workshop on Pandemic Preparedness and Response in early August.
The symposium brought together health officials and experts from across the Caribbean to discuss strategies to enhance the region’s ability to prevent and respond to epidemics.
The Caribbean has experienced multiple infectious disease outbreaks, including COVID-19, dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to rapidly spreading health crises.
In response to this situation, CARPHA launched the Pandemic Fund Project in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The project, which will be implemented from 2024 to 2026, aims to strengthen regional health security by improving pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) strategies.
The workshop brought together chief medical officers, national epidemiologists and laboratory directors from the 22 CARPHA Member States (CMS), representatives from regional agencies and international development partners. Participants discussed implementation plans, expected outcomes, and the importance of collaboration, partnerships and data-sharing agreements to ensure the project’s success.
Dr. Mark Sammy, CARPHA’s Director of Corporate Services and Opening Ceremony Chair, spoke about the importance of working together in addressing global health challenges.
Dr. Samy noted that the past few years have highlighted the need for strong mechanisms to respond to global health crises. The Pandemic Fund project aims to enhance the region’s preparedness and response capabilities for future pandemics.
The Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, Terence Deyalsinghe, delivered the keynote address, stressing the need to strengthen regional health systems.
He said health system shortcomings must be addressed to effectively respond to global public health threats and the Regional Epidemic Fund project is a step towards ensuring the region is better prepared.
Casani Lavelle, Chair of the CARPHA Executive Committee and Dominican Minister of Health, Wellness and Social Services, highlighted the role of the workshop in fostering regional cooperation.
CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General Alison Drayton discussed the wide-ranging impacts of the pandemic, including damage to education, healthcare and the economy. She noted the importance of the COVID-19 Fund to safeguard the region’s future and stressed the need for transparency and accountability in the management of the program.
Dr. Lisa Indar, interim executive director of CARPHA and director of the Epidemic Fund Program, outlined the program’s goals, which include strengthening regional surveillance, early warning systems, laboratory capacity, and workforce development—key elements for an effective polio response.
Carina Cockburn, IDB Country Representative in Trinidad and Tobago, and Dr. Priya Basu, Executive Director of the World Bank’s Pandemic Facility, spoke at the seminar. They discussed the importance of building regional capacity to combat pandemics and supported the goals of the project.
The workshop concluded with the first in-person meeting of the Pandemic Fund Steering Committee, which reviewed the project’s progress, discussed strategies for effective implementation, and explored ways to ensure a continued flow of high-quality data between CMS and agencies.
As the Pandemic Fund projects advance, it is expected that the Caribbean region’s capacity to respond to and prevent future pandemics will be enhanced, supporting the region’s long-term health security.
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