分类： Health

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) took a milestone step in its mission to strengthen health security and coordination in the region with the successful hosting of the Joint Regional Health Security (RHS) and Regional Coordinating Mechanism for Health Security (RCM-HS) Workshop, held from July 28–29, 2025 at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana.

The workshop theme, “Transitioning from a Regional Pathway to Action”, reflects the move from high-level planning to concrete implementation of the Caribbean’s Regional Health Security (RHS) Pathway – a strategic plan developed by CARPHA in collaboration with its Member States (MS), agencies and partners, to strengthen surveillance, response systems, and public health workforce capacity across the region.

Supported by CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund Project, this regional workshop brought together 140 participants from twenty four (24) Member States and twelve (12) international and regional agencies and partners, including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), The Pandemic Fund, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), _Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency_(CDEMA), CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), World Bank, and CARPHA. Key objectives included updating on the RHS Pathway, public health threats and priorities and demonstrating CARPHA’s Caribbean-tailored tools for improving surveillance and early warning surveillance systems (EWS), laboratory systems, workforce capacities and regional coordination for advancing pandemic preparedness and response (PPR) and RHS across the Caribbean.

CARPHA, as the sole regional public health agency, mandated by CARICOM Heads of Government to protect and promote health and respond to public health emergencies in 26 Caribbean Member States, serves as the Executing Agency for the Pandemic Fund Project and Chair of the RCM-HS, the established mechanism for coordinating the regional response to public health threats.

Under this mandate, CARPHA continues to lead the development of regional public health goods (RPGs) and cross-sectoral coordination efforts that protect health, support economic stability, and build resilience in the region’s Small Island Developing States SIDS).

In this regard, the workshop featured updates on CARPHA’s expanded syndromic surveillance systems in DHIS-2, confidential tourism/travellers health and mass gatherings surveillance systems, timeliness metrics, climate early warning system, integrated/one health foodborne/zoonoses diseases and antimicrobial resistance surveillance, expansion of laboratories and workforce capacities and faster sample transport and testing. Day 2 focused on enhancing inter-agency coordination and harmonisation.

In her remarks, Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director of CARPHA, noted: “This workshop represents more than a meeting of minds. It is about moving the Caribbean’s vision of health security into action. Through shared tools, strengthened partnerships, and a unified regional approach, we are building a healthier, safer future – one that is capable of detecting threats early, responding swiftly, and recovering stronger.”

Dr. Priya Basu, Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund Secretariat, commended CARPHA’s leadership in leading the efficient operationalising of their Pandemic Fund project. “CARPHA’s regional project began delivering results, distributing lab equipment for rapid testing, and rolling out an innovative mass gathering system that was deployed during last year’s Cricket World Cup.”

Delivering the keynote address, The Honourable Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health, Guyana, stated: “The Caribbean region, through CARPHA, has made remarkable strides in building a regionally unified health security architecture. Small states, porous borders, and climate vulnerabilities mean we cannot afford to work in silos. Thanks to the leadership of CARPHA and the endorsement of CARICOM Heads of Government, we are building the mechanism to act swiftly and decisively. CARPHA’s approach—tiered, One Health-based, and digitally integrated—is tailored to Caribbean realities and sets an example of innovation for other small island regions. From early warning systems for mass gatherings and climate-sensitive diseases to digital disease surveillance, biosafety measures, and infodemic monitoring, CARPHA is implementing cutting-edge, Caribbean-specific solutions.”

Ms. Alison Drayton, Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, praised the workshop’s focus and CARPHA’s leadership and contributions: “We are moving from reactive response to strategic readiness — a vision we must all commit to making real. Let us assess our progress under the Regional Health Security Pathway, identify what remains to be done, and strengthen integration by embedding CARPHA’s public health tools within national health and development plans.”

Dr. Kavita Singh, Sector Lead Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank, reaffirmed the IDB’s support. Speaking of the need for the continued need to develop Caribbean-tailored measures for advancement of RHS, she stressed: “Now it is equally imperative that this medium be created to allow for exchanges among the respective Member States as we evaluate our preparedness to address public health threats that may materialize to become outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, as well as to advance agencies and partner coordination and collaborations for the same.”

Key outcomes from the workshop included national action plans that incorporated CARPHA’s tools and mechanisms for RHS, a draft matrix of the Pandemic Fund Grants activities across the Caribbean, stakeholder feedback on CARPHA’s innovations for RHS and strengthened partnerships and mechanisms for enhanced coordination and collaboration among agencies and partners for seamless execution of information sharing, technical support and response, including the Caribbean Pandemic Fund grants, in Member States for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response PPR and advancing Regional and Global Health Security.

St. John’s, Antigua — In recognition of World Hepatitis B Day (July 28), the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) is reaffirming its commitment to the elimination of hepatitis B through its proactive birth dose vaccination program—a key pillar in Antigua and Barbuda’s public health efforts.

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which can lead to chronic disease, liver failure, and liver cancer. One of the most effective ways to prevent HBV transmission is by administering the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth—a critical window for protecting newborns, especially those at risk of mother-to-child transmission.

“At SLBMC, we routinely offer the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine to all newborns as part of our standard neonatal care,” said Dr. Saleem Hughes, Chair of SLBMC’s Paediatric Department. “This simple yet powerful intervention can protect children from a lifetime of chronic illness.”

From January to June 2025, 70% of babies born at SLBMC received the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth—a strong indicator of the hospital’s commitment to giving every child a healthy start in life.

SLBMC’s vaccination programme aligns with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and supports global and regional strategies for the elimination of viral hepatitis. By integrating the hepatitis B birth dose into routine care, SLBMC is helping to:

▪️Prevent lifelong chronic hepatitis B infections

▪️Protect future generations from liver disease

▪️Strengthen national and global hepatitis elimination efforts

As the country’s only tertiary care hospital, SLBMC encourages all parents and caregivers to speak with their healthcare providers about the importance of early vaccination and routine immunization.

Together, we can eliminate hepatitis—one birth, one vaccine, one healthy future at a time.

CABINET NOTES – The Minister for Health, the Honourable Sir Molwyn Joseph, informed the Cabinet that the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) is advancing its plans to significantly enhance healthcare services for individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease.

As part of this initiative, a dedicated treatment space has been identified at the Infectious Disease Centre (IDC), located on the site of the former Holberton Hospital. This facility will offer specialized care and support tailored to the unique needs of sickle cell patients, representing a major expansion of SLBMC’s healthcare services.

During a recent tour of the facility alongside members of the Sickle Cell Association and individuals affected by the disease, Minister Joseph reaffirmed the government’s commitment to this project. He announced that the designated area will undergo further development to create a fully equipped and patient-centered unit, and confirmed that construction will begin immediately. The Minister underscored that the establishment of this unit is a top priority for the SLBMC.

To complement these clinical services, the Centre will also launch a national registration drive to identify and register all sickle cell patients across Antigua and Barbuda. The goal is to build a comprehensive national database that will enhance long-term care, improve access to treatment, and support more effective planning and allocation of healthcare resources.

This initiative forms part of the government’s holistic and inclusive approach to healthcare delivery—ensuring that vulnerable groups receive the targeted attention and high-quality care they deserve.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment, and Civil Service Affairs remains steadfast in its commitment to establishing a dedicated Sickle Cell Unit to provide comprehensive care for persons affected by sickle cell disease. As part of the ongoing progress toward this goal, Minister of Health Sir Molwyn Joseph, Junior Minister Senator Michael Joseph, Director of the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre Dr. Shivon Belle-Javis, and President of the Antigua and Barbuda Sickle Cell Association Dr. Edda Hadeed recently conducted a site visit to the future unit location at the IDC facility.

During the visit, the delegation toured the interim site, which is planned to include five patient rooms, a consultation room, and a staff room—supporting primarily daytime inpatient management. The unit will be staffed by specially trained physicians, nurses, and clerical personnel who will receive focused training locally and through international collaborations.

The group also visited a nearby workshop where sickle cell patients were engaged in craft activities that provide therapeutic engagement and income opportunities. Plans are underway to showcase these crafts during upcoming cultural events such as Art Week and Heritage Quay, fostering patient empowerment and community awareness.

Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph reiterated the Government’s dedication: “Our administration is committed to enhancing healthcare services for all Antiguans and Barbudans. The establishment of this Sickle Cell Unit is a key priority, and we are making steady progress to ensure that persons affected by sickle cell disease receive the care and support they deserve. I also encourage all Antiguans and Barbudans to learn more about this dreadful disease. It is associated with excruciating pain and suffering. Join the fight to create a holistic response of treatment, with care and understanding.”

Dr. Shivon Belle-Javis highlighted the comprehensive approach envisioned for the unit: “This Sickle Cell Unit will be more than a pain management center; it will provide education, preventative care, and anticipatory guidance to improve patients’ quality of life through compassionate and holistic care.”

This initiative reflects the Ministry’s ongoing focus on improving healthcare access and outcomes for the sickle cell community in Antigua and Barbuda.

Funnily enough, before writing this piece, I had a solid plan: take my magnesium glycinate + D3 + K2 combo (a cocktail sexier than anything I had in my twenties), chase it with 5-HTP, and then… brilliance would flow. Simple, right?

Except, after fetching the water, I forgot why I had water. Then I lost the glass. The tablets were still in the bottle, and I was staring blankly into the void, wondering what task I had set out to do in the first place. Welcome to brain fog, now available in 4K and surround sound, brought to you by your very own hormones.

I used to walk into rooms with purpose. Now I walk in, look around like a confused ratta, and walk back out like a sad, perimenopausal ninja. My children think it’s hilarious… most of the time. I laugh too, nervously, while internally panicking that my brain might be doing daily memory dumps like an old computer trying to update on dial-up (remember those days?).

But let me tell you what’s really fun: living in a body that feels like a knockoff version of my old self. A body that betrays me with eternal heat, dry spells (yes, _those_ too), and mood swings so fierce, I swear I’ve growled at my reflection.

One minute, I’m sobbing into a pillow because you looked at me funny. The next, I’m apologizing with the desperation of someone trying to reverse a nuclear missile after it’s launched. I snap, I scream, then I weep; not because I want to, but because my emotional dial has been set to “Apocalypse Mode.”

And sex? Let’s talk about the elephant in the bedroom. My libido left the chat somewhere between the third load of laundry and my latest hormone crash. It’s not you babe, it’s _really_ not you; it’s just that my body’s thermostat is stuck on “hell” and my nerve endings have taken an unpaid sabbatical. Still, I remember what it felt like to be close, to want you deeply. I still _love_ you, more than I can sometimes show. I’m just fighting to feel like _me_ again.

I see the distance creeping in. I see your confusion, your withdrawal, the silent question: “What happened to her?” And I get it. This isn’t the woman you fell in love with. Some days, she’s not even someone _I_ recognize. But I promise you, she’s in here. Buried under layers of hormonal haze, broken sleep, and battles with rogue chin hairs; she’s still here, and she still wants _you_ beside her.

So no, don’t trade me in. Don’t think I don’t notice the way the world worships the younger, sexier, less complicated “model upgrades” of women. But remember, they too, will one day sweat through their sheets at 3 a.m. while crying over a missing sock and wondering if their partner still finds them beautiful.

All I ask is this: don’t run. Don’t roll your eyes. Don’t take it personally. Instead, stand beside me, steady and strong, even when I’m flailing. Hold my hand. Hand me the water I misplaced. Laugh with me when I cry because I forgot how to spell “Wednesday.” Kiss me on the forehead and say, “We’ve got this.”

Because we do.

Even now, especially now, I need you. I love you. And I promise, this too shall pass. (Right after I remember where I put my damn keys.)

With all the love and all the madness,

**Your Perimenopausal Partner-in-Crime**