Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. June 5th, 2026. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has successfully conducted a regional International Air Transport Association (IATA) Infectious Substances Transport Train-the-Trainer Workshop aimed at strengthening the Caribbean’s capacity for the safe and compliant transport of infectious substances and diagnostic specimens.
Held from Monday, May 25 to Friday, May 29, 2026, at the Kapok Hotel in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, the workshop brought together eighteen participants from fifteen CARPHA Member States, creating a new cadre of certified regional trainers to support biosafety, biosecurity, laboratory strengthening, and pandemic preparedness efforts across the Caribbean. Conducted in collaboration with IATA and supported through CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund Project, the workshop forms part of CARPHA’s broader commitment to enhancing regional pandemic preparedness, laboratory systems, and workforce development. Member states participating included Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos.
CARPHA Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Indar, noted this training represents an important investment in the region’s ability to move critical specimens safely, securely, and efficiently when timely public health action is needed most.
“The safe transport of infectious substances is often an unseen but essential part of protecting public health. When specimens move safely and correctly across our countries and to regional reference laboratories, it strengthens confidence in our systems and supports faster detection, better decision-making, and more coordinated response. Through this initiative, CARPHA is helping to build a regional network of trainers who can take this expertise back home and multiply its impact across the Caribbean,” Dr. Indar shared.
The intensive training programme combined technical instruction with instructional methodology sessions designed to equip participants with both the technical competencies and teaching skills needed to deliver high-quality infectious substances transport training within their respective countries. Participants received training in the classification, packaging, marking, labelling, documentation, and handling requirements for infectious substances, in accordance with current IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and international safety standards.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Horace Cox, emphasised that the safe transport of infectious substances is a critical component of regional health security and outbreak response.
“Efficient and compliant specimen transport supports timely laboratory diagnosis, surveillance, and public health interventions, particularly during outbreaks and public health emergencies,” Dr. Cox commented.
The workshop also sought to address regional gaps in certified infectious substances transport training by building sustainable in-country capacity. Through this initiative, Member States are now better positioned to conduct national-level training, strengthen specimen referral systems, and improve compliance with international shipping standards.
The objectives of the workshop included:
• Strengthening regional compliance with international transport regulations and biosafety standards.
• Developing a sustainable network of certified national trainers across CARPHA Member States.
• Enhancing laboratory preparedness and outbreak response through improved specimen transport systems.
• Supporting implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and regional pandemic preparedness efforts.
• Promoting harmonised shipping practices and collaboration among Member States.
• Improving workforce capacity in biosafety, biosecurity, and laboratory operations.
Participants are expected to replicate the training within their countries, thereby expanding national capacity and ensuring wider dissemination of best practices in infectious substances transport throughout the region. CARPHA will also continue to support mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement of the programme to help ensure long-term sustainability and impact.
This initiative forms part of CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund Project, which focuses on reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean through strengthened surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, workforce development, and regional coordination. By investing in regional expertise and sustainable training networks, CARPHA continues to advance resilient health systems and regional health security across the Caribbean.
About the Pandemic Fund Project
CARPHA is the Executing Agency for the PF Project, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity. The goal of this Project, which spans from 2024 to 2026, is to Reduce the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (PPR). The objective is to support the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic PPR surveillance and early warning systems, laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and at country levels. This will reduce the transboundary spread of infectious diseases and improve regional and global health security. CARPHA is the beneficiary of the PF project and CARPHA Member States are the participants. Learn more via CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund webpage.
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