CARPHA
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COHSOD–Health Chair Urges Stronger Health Systems to Withstand Climate and Financial Shocks
“Our health systems remain vulnerable to hurricanes and floods. These events remind us of the urgent need for resilient health systems and integrated disaster response strategies. The evolving economic landscape has added another layer of complexity. Diseases carry profound financial consequences, resulting in losses due to reduced productivity and rising healthcare costs. Such realities highlight that health is not just…
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Caribbean Health Sector Rallies for Resilience, Equity, and Innovation ahead of Fiftieth COHSOD
“We reaffirm our commitment to collective action, shared priorities, and the health and well-being of our Caribbean Community, amid a rapidly evolving global health landscape, changing donor priorities, and shifting regional and international dynamics. There is also an opportunity for us to focus on self-reliance and innovative strategies, ensuring that our Region not only responds to challenges but leads with…
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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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CARICOM Secretary-General Calls for Strengthened Health Collaboration between Africa and the Caribbean
“Health has long been a central focus of the regional development agenda in CARICOM. Guided by the Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH) framework, now in its fourth iteration, our Governments have collectively identified and continue to address priority health concerns that affect the people of the Caribbean Community. The Caribbean Cooperation in Health framework has provided the platform for aligning…
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Caribbean Public Health Leaders Convene to Drive Action on Regional Health Security
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. Alison Drayton | Assistant Secretary-General | Human and Social Development…
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PAHO and CARICOM Sign Landmark Strategy to Strengthen Public Health in the Caribbean
“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.” Dr Carla Barnett | Secretary-General | CARICOM Wednesday, 23 July 2025 (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown): The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Tuesday,…
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CARPHA enhances communication strategies and promotes One Health partnerships to support public health
“The [One Health] approach significantly changes how the Region approaches community health promotion and public health education strategies.” – Dike Noel, Manager, Communications, CARICOM Secretariat Communication and health promotion specialists from 25 CARICOM Member States and institutions have enhanced their capacity to further develop risk communication strategies by employing the “One Health” approach, which links human health to the health…
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Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week 2025 Launches Amid Rising Mosquito-borne Disease Cases
CARPHA Calls for Regional Action: “Stop Disease Transmission, Start Source Reduction! The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) officially invites all sectors to commemorate the 2025 iteration of Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week (CMAW), observed from May 12th to 16th, under the theme “Stop Disease Transmission, Start Source Reduction.” The campaign once again shines a spotlight on the serious and growing threat…
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CARICOM SG and Institutions discuss the impacts of declining international development assistance
Executive Directors and other senior officials of Caribbean Community Institutions have updated Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett about the adverse effect of the current geopolitical developments on their ability to deliver essential services to the Region. The developments were highlighted during a virtual meeting which the Secretary-General convened with Executive Directors and other senior officials of Community Institutions on Tuesday, 29 April. The…
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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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