Health
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Statement from the Caribbean Immunization Technical Advisory Group (CITAG) on the stark decline in childhood immunization rates, worsened by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
The Caribbean Immunization Technical Advisory Group (CITAG) wishes to alert Caribbean Ministers of Health and Chief Medical Officers that routine childhood vaccination coverage in Caribbean countries has fallen significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In some countries as many as 3 out of 10 infants are not fully vaccinated putting them at risk of measles, polio and other diseases eliminated in…
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CARPHA: The Decision to Impose Travel Entry Requirements Belongs to the National Authorities
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. 06 December, 2021: Countries across the world, including the Caribbean, are rolling out more stringent measures for travellers, including additional testing and even travel bans, as part of their plan to combat the latest COVID-19 variant, Omicron. In light of this, CARPHA Executive Director, Dr. Joy St. John contends, “The decision to impose entry…
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PANCAP virtual Town Hall to address concerns about COVID-19 Vaccines for Children
REGIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTITIONERS WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINES FOR CHILDREN IN THE 5-11 AGE GROUP Wednesday, 17 November 2021 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), the mechanism that provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, will host a virtual town hall to address concerns…
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World Diabetes Day 2021
“Diabetes causes death and disability. Complications from diabetes can lead to heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputation. This disease can adversely affect both the quality and length of your life, and screening for diabetes should be part of your routine health checks,” stated CARPHA Executive Director Dr. Joy St. John in observance of World Diabetes Day 2021. …
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REGION’S PUBLIC HEALTH BOOSTED BY PANCAP CAPACITY-BUILDING INITIATIVE
EIGHTEEN (18) CLINICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTITIONERS COMPLETE THREE-MONTH COURSE ON CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF HIV Thursday, 7 October 2021 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), the mechanism that provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, congratulates the eighteen (18) clinical and public health practitioners who completed…
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CARPHA Strengthens Its COVID-19 Testing Capacity with Japan Donation
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Thanks to a bilateral cooperation program, the Japan-CARICOM Friendship and Cooperation Fund, the CARPHA Medical Microbiology Laboratory (CMML) received twenty-three (23) Viral RNA Test Kits valued at US$43,411 which are expected to conduct approximately 5,750 tests. The laboratory supplies will go a long way in supporting CARPHA’s capacity to test for COVID-19. In addition…
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Statement by the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community Dr Carla Barnett on the occasion of Caribbean Wellness Day 2021, 11 September 2021
This year marks 14 years since the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been observing Caribbean Wellness Day. This is in keeping with the 2007 Port-of-Spain Declaration “Stop the Epidemic of Chronic Non-communicable Diseases” which was issued by the Heads of Government following their historic Summit on the issue. In 2020, it was decided that ‘Power Through Collective Action’, would be the…
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CARPHA Statement on the Brazil Variant (P.1)
Given the nature of the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19, variants are likely to emerge and several have emerged all over the world. Variants are a natural part of viral infection and replication. In this regard, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants that cause COVID-19, such as Brazil, UK and South African variants, is normal and expected. Some variants have been reported…
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Update from the Caribbean Public Health Agency on COVID-19 Vaccines and Variants
The Caribbean Public Health Agency is aware that some countries in the European Union have suspended their AstraZeneca vaccination campaign, as a result of reports of rare blood coagulation disorders in people who had received the vaccine. This was done as a precautionary measure while a full investigation is conducted into the reports. At present, it cannot be determined whether…
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Statement by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability
As the world grapples with the challenge of controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is deeply concerned at the current prospect of inequitable access to vaccines to address the pandemic, especially for frontline workers and vulnerable populations. The reality is that small states will find it difficult to compete in the market place to ensure equitable access for…
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