"This workshop represents CARPHA’s continued commitment to strengthening Member States’ readiness and response capabilities with novel [Early Warning Systems] tools designed for the Caribbean context, i.e. small islands, varying surveillance and laboratory capacities, porous interconnected borders, tourism dependency and vulnerability to disasters and climate change impact.
“The Caribbean Region is currently experiencing peak travel and tourism season, marked by increased air and cruise-ship travel, which is typically associated with a rise in respiratory illnesses among both travellers and local populations. The concurrent occurrence of multiple respiratory outbreaks, as seen in China, poses a risk of straining health systems and response efforts.”
As the Region seeks to consolidate integration in the year ahead, we look forward to continued collaboration with our stakeholders and partners, including the CARICOM Committee of Ambassadors and CARICOM Youth Ambassadors, as well as the guidance of the Bureau of the Conference, which will comprise Barbados, Grenada and Jamaica effective 1 January 2025.
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 3 July 2024 - Caribbean Public Health Day (CPHD) is celebrated annually on 2 July to raise awareness about public health’s vital role in the lives of Caribbean people and to highlight the work of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). This day coincides with the anniversary of CARPHA, the Region’s sole public health agency, which was legally established in July 2011 and operationalized in 2013 following the signing of an Intergovernmental Agreement by CARICOM Heads of Government.