Caribbean Public Health Agency

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]

Caribbean Public Health Agency
Agency overview
Formed2013 (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
Headquarters Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
10°40′26″N 61°31′28″W
Agency executive
  • Dr. Cheryl Joy St. John, Executive Director
Websitehttp://www.carpha.org/

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)

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".[4]

CARPHA aims to address regional issues including:[4]

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 at current levels expected to be able to continue testing for three weeks.[5]

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 Corona virus.[6]

On 11 April 2020, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados who is the current 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.[7] The governments have agreed to the proposal in a virtual meeting.[8]

Membership

Currently CARPHA has 24 full members throughout the Americas.[9]

CountryJoinedPopulation
Anguilla--
Antigua and Barbuda--
Aruba--
Bahamas--
Barbados--
Belize--
Bermuda--
BES Islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba)--
British Virgin Islands--
Cayman Islands--
Curacao--
Dominica--
Grenada--
Haiti--
Guyana--
Jamaica--
Montserrat--
Saint Kitts and Nevis--
Saint Lucia--
St. Maarten--
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines--
Suriname--
Trinidad and Tobago--
Turks and Caicos Islands--

See also

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

References
  1. "CARICOM to Establish Health Agency". Caribbean Journal. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  2. "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. "About The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)". CARPHA. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  5. "Global shortage of key ingredient could affect COVID-19 testing in Caribbean". Jamaica Observer. 5 April 2020.
  6. "EU provides US$8.6M grant for C'bean to combat COVID-19". Kaieteur News. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. "COVID-19: Special CARICOM Heads of Government meeting scheduled". Loop News Barbados. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  8. "Caricom-staatshoofden stemmen in met gezamenlijk gezondheidsprotocol". Suriname Herald (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  9. "Member States". CARPHA. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
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