Caribbean Public Health Agency

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Caribbean Public Health Agency
Agency overview
Formed2013; 9 years ago (2013)[1]
Preceding agencies
  • The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI)
  • The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC)
  • The Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI)
  • The Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC)
  • The Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (CRDTL)
JurisdictionCARICOM
HeadquartersTrinidad and Tobago Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
10°40′26″N 61°31′28″W / 10.67389°N 61.52444°W / 10.67389; -61.52444Coordinates: 10°40′26″N 61°31′28″W / 10.67389°N 61.52444°W / 10.67389; -61.52444
Agency executive
  • Dr. Cheryl Joy St. John, Executive Director
Websitehttp://www.carpha.org/

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is a regional public health agency headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago[2] which was established by CARICOM leaders in July 2011[1] and began operation in 2013.[2]

CARPHA combines the functions of five pre-existing regional health institutions:[3]

  • The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI)
  • The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC)
  • The Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI)
  • The Caribbean Health Research Centre (CHRC)
  • The Caribbean Research and Drug Treatment Laboratory (CRDTL)

History[]

The CARPHA was established in 2013.

On 14 May 2014, the CARPHA acknowledged the gift by the Government of Canada of a Biosafety level 3 laboratory.[4][5]

Role[]

CARPHA's self-stated mission is "As a professional organisation to build member states' capacity to prevent disease and promote health and wellness through leadership, partnership and innovation in public health".[6]

CARPHA aims to address regional issues including:[6]

  • Responding to disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and flooding.
  • Monitoring and managing both communicable diseases (e.g. HIV/AIDS and COVID-19) and non communicable diseases (e.g. obesity and diabetes) that are prevalent in the region.
  • Monitoring and preventing injuries, violence and illnesses in work places.
  • Contributing to global health agreements and compliance with international health regulations.

COVID-19[]

During the COVID-19 pandemic CARPHA has been performing tests for 18 countries in the region but warned on 5 April 2020, that they were running short on reagents required for COVID-19 testing and expected to be able to continue testing for three weeks.[7][needs update]

On 9 April 2020, the European Union announced a grant of €8M (US$8.6M), which will be implemented by the Caribbean Public Health Agency, for the fight against the coronavirus.[8][needs update]

On 11 April 2020, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados who is the CARICOM Chair, called a special Heads of Government meeting to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and establish a common public health protocol, and border policy.[9] The governments have agreed to the proposal in a virtual meeting.[10][needs update]

Membership[]

CARPHA has 26 full members throughout the Americas.[11]

Country Joined Population[12][13]
AnguillaAnguilla - 14,731
Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda - 96,286
ArubaAruba - 105,845
The BahamasBahamas - 385,637
BarbadosBarbados - 286,641
BelizeBelize - 383,071
BermudaBermuda - 62,756
Caribbean NetherlandsBES Islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba) - 25,711
British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands - 29,802
Cayman IslandsCayman Islands - 64,174
CuraçaoCuraçao - 162,752
DominicaDominica - 71,625
GrenadaGrenada - 111,454
HaitiHaiti - 11,123,178
GuyanaGuyana - 779,006
JamaicaJamaica - 2,934,847
MontserratMontserrat - 4,993
Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and Nevis - 52,441
Saint LuciaSaint Lucia - 181,889
Sint MaartenSint Maarten - 41,940
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the Grenadines - 110,211
SurinameSuriname - 575,990
Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago - 1,389,843
Turks and Caicos IslandsTurks and Caicos Islands - 37,665

See also[]

For similar agencies, please see the List of national public health agencies

  • PAHO
  • World Health Organization (WHO;  United Nations)

References[]

  1. ^ a b "CARICOM to Establish Health Agency". Caribbean Journal. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Remarks by Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, (CARICOM) At The Launch of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)". CARICOM. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Caribbean Public Health Agency to launch operations in 2013". Kaieteur News. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  4. ^ "BSL-3 lab funded by Canada initiative of The Global Partnership Program Press Release". Germfree Laboratories, Inc. 20 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Canada donates Biosafety Level 3 modular laboratory to Caribbean health authorities". Homeland Security News Wire. News Wire Publications, LLC News Wire Publications, LLC. 2 June 2014.
  6. ^ a b "About The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)". CARPHA. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Global shortage of key ingredient could affect COVID-19 testing in Caribbean". Jamaica Observer. 5 April 2020.
  8. ^ "EU provides US$8.6M grant for C'bean to combat COVID-19". Kaieteur News. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  9. ^ "COVID-19: Special CARICOM Heads of Government meeting scheduled". Loop News Barbados. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Caricom-staatshoofden stemmen in met gezamenlijk gezondheidsprotocol". Suriname Herald (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Caribbean Public Health Agency Member States". The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  12. ^ ""World Population prospects – Population division"". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  13. ^ ""Overall total population" – World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision" (xslx). population.un.org (custom data acquired via website). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved November 9, 2019.

External links[]

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