Caribbean Public Health Agency

Last updated
Caribbean Public Health Agency
Agency overview
Formed2013;10 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)
Jurisdiction CARICOM
Headquarters Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
10°40′26″N61°31′28″W / 10.67389°N 61.52444°W / 10.67389; -61.52444
Agency executive
  • Dr. Cheryl Joy St. John, Executive Director
Website http://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]

Contents

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]

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]

CountryJoinedPopulation [12] [13]
Flag of Anguilla.svg Anguilla -15,753
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg Antigua and Barbuda -93,219
Flag of Aruba.svg Aruba -106,537
Flag of the Bahamas.svg Bahamas -407,906
Flag of Barbados.svg Barbados -281,200
Flag of Belize.svg Belize -400,031
Flag of Bermuda.svg Bermuda -64,185
Flag of the Netherlands.svg BES Islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba)-26,706
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg British Virgin Islands -31,122
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg Cayman Islands -68,136
Flag of Curacao.svg Curaçao -190,338
Flag of Dominica.svg Dominica -72,412
Flag of Grenada.svg Grenada -124,610
Flag of Haiti.svg Haiti -11,447,569
Flag of Guyana.svg Guyana -804,567
Flag of Jamaica.svg Jamaica -2,827,695
Flag of Montserrat.svg Montserrat -4,417
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg Saint Kitts and Nevis -47,606
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg Saint Lucia -179,651
Flag of Sint Maarten.svg Sint Maarten -44,042
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -104,332
Flag of Suriname.svg Suriname -612,985
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Trinidad and Tobago -1,525,663
Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg Turks and Caicos Islands -45,114

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "CARICOM to Establish Health Agency". Caribbean Journal. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  2. 1 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. "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. "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 2022". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  13. "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX). population.un.org ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.