The critical shortage of nurses in the Region and the resulting impacts on the health sector of Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are major concerns of policymakers and the Regional Nursing Body (RNB).
“The CARICOM Secretariat sees [the CARPHA Strategic Plan 2025–2030] as an opportunity to strengthen structured collaboration between the Secretariat, CARPHA and other regional entities, and a road map to guide how Member States align their priorities and collaborate on critical regional imperatives.
The Caribbean’s unique vulnerabilities — from small population bases and porous borders to economic dependence on tourism and the escalating impacts of climate change — demand coordinated, context-specific, and forward-looking solutions. Strengthening our collective capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats is, therefore, not optional, it is imperative.
The CARICOM Secretariat is marking World Hepatitis Day 2025 with a powerful message: It’s time to talk, test, and take action. This year’s theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” calls for everyone, not just health professionals, to understand, speak up, and help stop viral hepatitis.
“The [PAHO-CARICOM Joint Sub-regional Cooperation Strategy (JSCS) 2025-2029] is a continuation of a process. CARICOM has prioritised health outcomes for a long time, and this long-standing commitment of CARICOM will continue.”
Today, 22 July, marks a major milestone as CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett and PAHO Director Dr Jarbas Barbosa signed the PAHO-CARICOM Joint Sub-regional Cooperation Strategy (JSCS) 2025–2029!
“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.”
“CARICOM Heads of Governments expressed deep concern about the high levels of crime and violence in the Region, driven in part by firearms and ammunition trafficking, transnational criminal networks, and a breakdown of social structures, and the impact of crime and violence on young people and children.”
The Chairman of the Conference of Heads, the Hon.
“The migration of healthcare workers significantly impacts our health systems' ability to provide quality and timely healthcare services. Therefore, policies to train and retain healthcare workers in the Region must be creative, robust and more responsive to the needs of our healthcare personnel.”