Organization:Caribbean Public Health Agency

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Short description: Regional public health agency headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Public Health Agency
Agency overview
Formed2013; 11 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; -61.52444
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), and 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 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
Template:Country data St. MaartenSint Maarten - 41,940

Saint-Martin (French part)=37,264

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

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "CARICOM to Establish Health Agency". Caribbean Journal. 15 June 2011. https://www.caribjournal.com/2011/06/15/caricom-to-establish-regional-health-agency/. Retrieved 5 April 2020. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "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. https://caricom.org/remarks-by-ambassador-irwin-larocque-secretary-general-of-the-caribbean-community-caricom-at-the-launch-of-the-caribbean-public-health-agency-carpha/. Retrieved 5 April 2020. 
  3. "Caribbean Public Health Agency to launch operations in 2013". Kaieteur News. 18 December 2012. https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2012/12/18/caribbean-public-health-agency-to-launch-operations-in-2013/. 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. https://www.germfree.com/news/bsl-3-lab-funded-by-canada-initiative-of-the-global-partnership-program-press-release/. 
  5. "Canada donates Biosafety Level 3 modular laboratory to Caribbean health authorities". News Wire Publications, LLC News Wire Publications, LLC. Homeland Security News Wire. 2 June 2014. http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20140602-canada-donates-biosafety-level-3-modular-laboratory-to-caribbean-health-authorities. 
  6. "About The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)". CARPHA. http://www.carpha.org/About. Retrieved 5 April 2020. 
  7. "Global shortage of key ingredient could affect COVID-19 testing in Caribbean". 5 April 2020. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/global-shortage-of-key-ingredient-could-affect-covid-19-testing-in-caribbean_191350. 
  8. "EU provides US$8.6M grant for C’bean to combat COVID-19". https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2020/04/09/eu-provides-us8-6m-grant-for-cbean-to-combat-covid-19/. 
  9. "COVID-19: Special CARICOM Heads of Government meeting scheduled". http://www.loopnewsbarbados.com/content/covid-19-special-caricom-heads-government-meeting-scheduled. 
  10. "Caricom-staatshoofden stemmen in met gezamenlijk gezondheidsprotocol" (in nl). https://www.srherald.com/suriname/2020/04/16/caricom-staatshoofden-stemmen-in-met-gezamenlijk-gezondheidsprotocol/. 
  11. "Caribbean Public Health Agency Member States". https://www.carpha.org/Who-We-Are/Member-States. 
  12. ""World Population prospects – Population division"". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. https://population.un.org/wpp/. 
  13. ""Overall total population" – World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision" (xslx). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/1_Population/WPP2019_POP_F01_1_TOTAL_POPULATION_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx. 

External links