CARPHA Convenes the First Meeting of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism for Ebola Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, December 08, 2014: The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) recently hosted the first meeting of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism for Ebola (RCME). The establishment of the RCME, with CARPHA as Chair, was one of the measures in the 10 point plan of action adopted by CARICOM Heads of Government on November 4th, to Stop Ebola There and Here. The aim of the RCME is to strengthen coordination of the Ebola response in the Caribbean in the event that a case of Ebola virus disease is confirmed in the Region.
Representatives of regional institutions, such as the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and CARPHA member states participated in a virtual meeting to discuss progress on the preparedness of the Region for Ebola.
During the RCME meeting, CARPHA’s Executive Director, Dr. C. James Hospedales, stated that CARPHA and PAHO had joined forces to assess countries’ preparedness to respond to a potential imported Ebola case. He said that nine countries had already been assessed and that CARPHA and PAHO would be addressing ways to meet the needs that had been identified. In addition, Dr. Hospedales pointed out that CARPHA had a key role to play in providing laboratory support for the diagnosis of Ebola virus disease in the Caribbean region.
He further advised that CARPHA was working together with partners to establish the Stop Ebola There and Here (SETH) Fund. The SETH Fund was identified as a means of resource mobilization in the 10 point action plan.