carpha
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Regional experts lay groundwork for unified response to vector-borne diseases
“Although Dengue has been in the Region for years, with the introduction of Chikungunya in 2013, and now Zika, vector-borne diseases (VBDs) have become very prominent, taking centre stage,” stated Dr Karen Polson-Edwards, Acting Director, Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Dr Polson-Edwards was speaking at the opening of the first meeting of the Surveillance…
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The Regional Response to Childhood Obesity Intensifies
Childhood obesity continues to be a serious public health concern in the Region. Statistics show that more than 30% of our Caribbean adolescents are overweight or obese, and risk developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases later in life. The economic burden of diabetes and hypertension alone is estimated at between 1.4% and 8% of…
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CARICOM – Regional conference to tackle childhood obesity
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Feb 9, CMC – Representatives of regional health organisations are meeting here this week to map out a plan to prevent childhood obesity through improved food and nutrition security. The two-day high-level meeting is being hosted by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in response to growing concerns among the region’s health officials that 20-30 percent of the…
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Caribbean better prepared to deal with crisis situations
The Caribbean region’s ability to respond to crisis situations and its early warning capacity have been greatly strengthened, thanks to the Global Crisis Response Support Programme (GCRSP). The two-year programme received 2.6 million euros from the European Union to improve crisis management infrastructures in the Region, and included training courses, workshops, and a scenario/simulation exercise. Participating agencies gave the Programme…
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Caribbean regional security, health and disaster agencies face comprehensive readiness test
Security, public health and disaster management personnel from across the Caribbean will be put to the test as they participate in a training exercise aimed at improving regional responses during an emergency situation. The exercise, Synergy 2017, will present emergency scenarios that could occur in the Caribbean region. The exercise will take place from January 11 to 12 at…
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Ending AIDS Requires Our Combined Efforts – CARPHA
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, CARPHA: Statistics show that eighty-three percent of reported persons with HIV in the Caribbean are in the 15-54 year age group, with 50 percent of that group being 25-34 years old. CARPHA Executive Director, Dr. C. James Hospedales said “This means the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been moving steadily into younger and younger population groups.”…
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CARPHA Team deployed to the Bahamas in the Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has sent a team to the Bahamas to carry out rapid needs assessment following the passage of Hurricane Matthew. CARPHA is part of the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) which is spearheaded by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). The islands of the Bahamas suffered severe impact from Hurricane Matthew on Thursday afternoon, forcing…
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CARPHA Unravels the “Mystery” Behind the Zika Numbers
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) reports that positive Zika cases confirmed by laboratory testing represents only the “tip of the iceberg.” This means that the number of confirmed Zika cases published in the media are only a small number of infected persons, who were tested and confirmed as positive for having the disease. Executive Director, CARPHA, Dr. C. James…
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Help find solution to childhood obesity – CARPHA Head
In a message commemorating Caribbean Wellness Day, head of CARPHA, Dr. James Hospedales is encouraging the Region to help find a solution to childhood obesity. According to him at least one in every five of our children is carrying unhealthy weight and is at risk of developing NCDs and other problems later in life. He said with such conditions prevalent in…
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CARPHA Must Receive Zika Blood Samples Within 5 Days of First Symptom
With growing concerns over more people being infected with the Zika virus, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has said Zika blood samples, for laboratory confirmation, must be taken and sent to the agency no more than five days from the onset of the first sign of illness. Based on the technology the agency uses to perform the Zika tests,…
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