{"id":178513,"date":"2023-07-02T10:54:48","date_gmt":"2023-07-02T14:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=178513"},"modified":"2023-07-02T10:55:12","modified_gmt":"2023-07-02T14:55:12","slug":"a-decade-of-public-health-service-carpha-observes-10-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/a-decade-of-public-health-service-carpha-observes-10-years\/","title":{"rendered":"A Decade of Public Health Service: CARPHA Observes 10 years"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>

This year, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) observes its 10-year anniversary.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

CARPHA\u00a0became the new single regional public health agency for the Caribbean when it was legally established in July 2011.<\/p>\n

However, the Agency\u00a0began\u00a0its operations\u00a0in 2013, after an Intergovernmental Agreement was signed by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

Caribbean Public Health Day celebrated on July 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0every year, coincides with the anniversary of the legal establishment of CARPHA.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

This special day was established to increase awareness of the field of Public Health and to highlight how CARPHA\u2019s work affects the everyday lives of Caribbean people.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were\u00a0established to\u00a0be\u00a0the\u00a0guardian of the Caribbean Community\u2019s public health. Much was expected of us for the privilege of that position of trust.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

I am so proud that 10 years later, CARPHA is still here and still serving our Member States. For Caribbean Public Health Day, we want to take this time to\u00a0reflect on all we have learnt.<\/p>\n

It is wonderful that there are achievements\u00a0that have been recognised.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

More importantly, CARPHA has found many ways to add\u00a0value\u00a0in Caribbean\u00a0public health\u00a0and\u00a0health security.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

We are determined to ensure\u00a0the public health good of all Caribbean people,\u201d\u00a0stated CARPHA\u2019s Executive Director, Dr. Joy St. John.<\/p>\n

CARPHA is an avenue by which the health of our people may be advanced. In accordance with the principle that the health of the region is the wealth of the region, it is an agency that stands at the cusp of this region\u2019s development possibilities by providing epidemic protection, laboratory networking and leadership in effective public health interventions.<\/p>\n

Among the significant achievements for the Agency, the most recent is the leadership role in the public health emergency response to the\u00a0COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In recognition of this work, CARPHA received a humanitarian work award by the Government of the Republic of Barbados.<\/p>\n

The agency has earned\u00a0accreditation for its three laboratories<\/a>\u00a0which includes the only ISO\/IEC 17025 accredited\u00a0medicines quality control laboratory<\/a>\u00a0in the English-speaking Caribbean.<\/p>\n

As part of CARPHA\u2019s support to Member States in responding to the growing challenges of vector-borne diseases, a new and innovative mobile app called Zap-a-‘quito, short for Zap a mosquito was launched.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Tourism and Health Programme<\/a>\u00a0was established to strengthen national capacity to detect and quickly respond to health threats and to build capacity for food safety and environmental management in the industry.<\/p>\n

CARPHA plays a leadership role in advancing and strengthening partnerships to support Regional Health Security and was the Chair of Global Health Security Agenda Action Package for Biosafety and Biosecurity for the period 2020 to 2021.<\/p>\n

Our investments in partnerships have had an impact in many public health areas.\u00a0 Many agreements have been signed over the years with regional and international public health organisations to:<\/p>\n