Caribbean Public Health Day
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“Caribbean HIV Response Enters Critical Phase on Path to 2030” – Director, PANCAP Coordinating Unit
At the Tenth Meeting of National AIDS Programme Managers and Key Partners Opening Ceremony on Wednesday 18 March, Dr Wendy Telgt-Emanuelson, Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, emphasised the importance of this annual gathering in shaping the Caribbean’s HIV response. She noted that while the meeting traditionally reviews progress and challenges, this year’s discussions are especially significant as the Region…
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CARICOM COHSOD Chair Calls for Innovation, Equity and Financing to Sustain Caribbean HIV Response
“The global HIV response is entering a difficult moment. Funding pressures are growing. Some international support is declining. Prevention programmes are often the first to feel the impact. In fact, UNAIDS warns that if prevention services decline significantly, the world could see nearly four million additional HIV infections over the next five years. We must therefore ensure that adequate funding…
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Secretary-General Barnett: CARICOM Must ‘Move Beyond Words to Action’ at 50th Heads of Government Meeting
In her remarks at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett commended St Kitts and Nevis for its role as host. She highlighted the nation’s consistent contributions, noting: “Now, as then, the smallest sovereign state among us is punching above its weight, and no effort has…
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Grenada Leads Regional Charge against Non-Communicable Diseases with PAHO Hearts Initiative
Grenada has officially achieved national scale-up of the PAHO HEARTS initiative, marking a major milestone in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are no longer just a public health concern in Grenada—they are a national priority. In 2019, NCDs accounted for over 80% of all deaths in the country, with cardiovascular diseases responsible for four of the…
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Caribbean Health Leaders Call for Urgent Action to Build Resilient Health Systems amidst Climate and Economic Threats
“Diseases carry profound financial consequences, resulting in losses due to reduced productivity and rising healthcare costs. Such realities highlight that health is not just a social priority; it is an economic imperative.”– Hon. Philip Telesford | Minister of Health, Wellness, and Religious Affairs | Grenada and Chair of the 50th COHSOD-Health CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana | Saturday, 27…
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Message | Dr Carla Barnett | Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) | Caribbean Wellness Day | 13 September 2025
Even as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) makes progress in advancing sustainable development, we face the continuing and costly challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes remain the leading causes of illness and death across our Region. Lifestyle factors, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol consumption, erode the health of our people,…
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CARPHA Builds Regional Readiness through Emergency Response and Early Warning Systems Training
“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. Through this initiative, we are reinforcing the foundation for EWS and a more timely,…
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CARPHA urges Region to enhance surveillance amid rise in respiratory illnesses
“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.” – CARPHA PORT OF SPAIN,…
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END-OF-YEAR MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) DR CARLA N. BARNETT
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. CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett Throughout…
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Caribbean Public Health Day: from Awareness to Action – Public Health Matters
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…
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