Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. August 20, 2025. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in collaboration with the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), has successfully concluded the Regional GOARN Tier 1.5 Orientation to National and International Outbreak Response Workshop, followed by an Evaluation Workshop of CARPHA’s response plans and mechanisms, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the Region’s capacity to respond rapidly and effectively to public health emergencies.
This first of its kind three-day event in the Caribbean, consisting of two outbreak response workshops back-to-back – held from August 18–20, was funded through The Pandemic Fund Grant, with CARPHA serving as the Executing Agency and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity. It brought together 34 participants, comprising representatives from 10 CARPHA Member States along with CARPHA personnel based in Trinidad and Tobago. Attendees included emergency response focal points from ministries of health, public health surveillance officers, laboratory professionals, and specialists in risk communication and One Health – an approach that recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in the prevention and control of disease threats.
These intensive workshops were designed to help close identified gaps in the Region’s emergency response architecture, particularly in relation to the deployable response workforce, internal operational processes, and multisectoral coordination mechanisms. Strengthening these areas is essential for improving both the speed and the effectiveness of regional responses to fast-evolving health threats, such as pandemics, vector-borne diseases, and other acute public health emergencies.
Through a combination of classroom sessions, hands-on simulation exercises and facilitated discussions, the GOARN workshop exposed participants to the transferable skills and key considerations required for effective international deployment and provided insight into deployment mechanisms and processes. The accompanying response plan review then examined CARPHA’s capacity and capability to respond, using relevant scenarios to stress test existing plans and procedures, clarify roles and decision-making arrangements, and identify practical improvements in multisectoral coordination.
This practical approach ensured that participants left the training with enhanced technical skills and the confidence to apply them in high-pressure situations.
Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director of CARPHA, praised the collaborative effort and its impact:
“These workshops strengthen our collective readiness to face the next public health emergency. By enhancing the skills of our regional deployers and testing our coordination protocols under realistic conditions, we are ensuring that CARPHA and its Member States can respond quickly and decisively when outbreaks occur. Our continued priority is the safeguarding of lives and protection of our livelihoods.”
Dr. Ed Newman, Director of the UK-PHRST and Co-Deputy Chair of the GOARN Steering Committee, noted the lasting value of the programme:
“We’re delighted to partner with CARPHA on this initiative in support of their vision to expand regional Public Health Emergency Response capacity and capability. Working alongside GOARN, we’re proud that UK-PHRST has the expertise to deliver these workshops, sharing our learning and experience and that of our partners – helping ensure CARPHA and its Member States are better equipped to respond to future public health emergencies. This partnership demonstrates the power of international collaboration in building resilient public health response systems and reflects our shared commitment to strengthening global health security.”
British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, H.E. Jon Dean added “The UK is proud to have supported this important initiative through the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, in close partnership with CARPHA and WHO GOARN. The training represents a meaningful step toward strengthening the speed and effectiveness of public health emergency responses in Trinidad and Tobago and across the Caribbean. This collaboration reflects the UK’s enduring commitment to regional cooperation, resilience, and shared learning with the Caribbean”
Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. the Honourable Lackram Bodoe, highlighted the strategic importance of the collaborative effort underpinning the workshop. “This gathering represents far more than a training exercise. It is a strategic commitment to fortifying our collective defence against the ever-evolving threats of infectious diseases and public health emergencies. It is also a statement that the Caribbean, though small in size, stands united in purpose and prepared for action.”
By the close of the workshops, participants had tested and refined CARPHA’s regional outbreak coordination mechanisms, identified strengths and areas for improvement in operational readiness, and strengthened their ability to collaborate across borders and sectors. The knowledge and skills gained will now be integrated into national public health systems, expanding the region’s pool of professionals who are trained, tested, and ready for rapid deployment.
By building a skilled and responsive health emergency workforce and testing coordination protocols under realistic conditions, this initiative supports the long-term sustainability of emergency preparedness in the region and contributes directly to reducing the public health impact of future pandemics and other acute threats. In doing so, it advances one of the key goals of CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund Project – to ensure that Member States have the systems, infrastructure, and human resources in place to detect, respond to, and contain public health threats before they escalate.
