Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. June 12, 2026. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) successfully concluded the 2nd Joint Regional Health Security (RHS) and Regional Coordinating Mechanism for Health Security (RCM-HS) Meeting, held at Hyatt Regency, Trinidad, from June 9-11, 2026. This meeting, jointly supported by CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund Project and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), marked a significant milestone in CARPHA’s commitment to strengthening preparedness and response to public health emergencies and regional health security (RHS) through enhanced coordination, integrated surveillance, and Caribbean-tailored digital early warning and response mechanisms.

The three-day meeting convened 129 persons, fostering dynamic dialogue, knowledge exchange, and stakeholder engagement. Attendees included 54 representatives from 20 CARPHA Member States (CMS) (Chief Medical Officers, National Epidemiologists, Laboratory Directors and other public health officials), 27 representatives from 19 regional and international partner agencies (PAHO/WHO, UKHSA, CDC,  The Pandemic Fund, IDB, Resolves to Save Lives, CARICOM, CDEMA, IMPACS, RSS, CAHFSA, CDB, FHI360, PHAC, WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, Georgetown University, World Bank and UWI Cave Hill and St. Augustine). The opening session featured a keynote address by the Honourable Dr. Lackram Bodoe, Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, and was attended by six members of the Diplomatic Corps.

This year’s meeting focused on advancing the region into the implementation of CARPHA’s Caribbean-specific Regional Integrated Early Warning Surveillance and Response System (RIEWSS) digital innovations, endorsed by the CARICOM Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) in 2025 and 2026 for use in strengthening preparedness and response to public health emergencies across the Region.

RIEWSS comprises an integrated platform of engineered surveillance systems and digital innovations designed to provide early warning alerts across multiple domains, including tourism/travel-related health, mass gatherings, vector-borne diseases, foodborne and zoonotic diseases, climate-sensitive health threats, laboratory surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, and information environment monitoring. The meeting also highlighted CARPHA’s complementary surveillance systems supporting noncommunicable diseases, pharmacovigilance, and workforce development.

CARPHA’s surveillance innovations were showcased through videos, infographics, case studies, and live demonstrations. Presentations highlighted how these tools support CARPHA’s Timeliness Metrics, a Caribbean adaptation of the globally recognised 7-1-7 framework, designed to measure how quickly emerging public health threats are detected, notified, and responded to within the unique context of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Testimonials from CMS already utilizing various surveillance systems demonstrated how these innovations are enabling earlier detection, improved data sharing, and stronger evidence-based decisionmaking at the national level. The meeting also included two panel discussions with regional and international partners, fostering dialogue on collaborative approaches to strengthening regional health security.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director, CARPHA, joined representatives from the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, CARICOM, The Pandemic Fund, IDB, CDC, and PAHO/WHO in emphasizing the importance of Caribbean-led solutions that reflect regional realities and vulnerabilities. “At the heart of this work is a simple but powerful principle: the Caribbean requires Caribbean-tailored solutions. Our region’s interconnectedness means that no Member State is fully protected unless all are protected.” Dr. Indar highlighted.

The Honourable Dr. Lackram Bodoe, Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, delivered the keynote address and shared, “The health security of one Caribbean nation is intrinsically linked to the health security of all Caribbean nations.” Minister commended CARPHA for its continued leadership in advancing the regional health security agenda.

Ms. Helen Royer, Director, Human Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, remarked “Health security is not solely a national issue. It requires coordination, trust, timely information-sharing, and sustained regional cooperation.” 

Dr. Priya Basu, Executive Head of The Pandemic Fund, also praised CARPHA’s progress and affirmed, “These achievements are not simply technical milestones. They represent stronger regional capabilities to identify threats earlier, share information faster, and respond more effectively.” 

Ms. Dominique Afoon, Senior Associate, Health, Nutrition and Population Division, IBD, reflected, “What has always distinguished CARPHA is its willingness to innovate, which is recognised globally. When countries work together, regional capacity becomes greater than the sum of its individual parts.”

Ms. Leah-Mari Richards, Chief, Caribbean Subregional Program, PAHO/WHO, urged, “The task now is to translate that momentum into the concrete, coordinated action that our Member States deserve - systems that detect threats early, share data seamlessly, and respond as one region.”  

Building on extensive consultations with CMS and partner organisations, key outcomes of the meeting included: 

• Launch of feature video, produced in collaboration with The Pandemic Fund and RTSL, on the Caribbeantailored Timeliness Metrics for Mass Gathering Surveillance in SIDS. It highlights CARPHA’s Mass Gathering Surveillance System, implemented during the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup to support rapid detection, information sharing and coordinated response across CMS. 
• Demonstration of the Ministerial approved, operational CARPHA Caribbean-specific RIEWSS innovations 
• Distribution of data-entry tablets to Member States
• 20 Country implementation plans for CARPHA early-warning systems and RIEWSS
• Updated stakeholders on the regional and global advancements and challenges
• Strengthened partnerships for a coordinated approach to regional health security

By advancing Caribbean-tailored digital tools, regional coordination, and shared implementation priorities, CARPHA continues to strengthen the systems that protect the health, security, and resilience of its CMS. This work is central to ensuring that the Caribbean is better equipped to detect threats early, act collectively, and safeguard the well-being of its people and economies. 

Photo Captions:

Photo Caption: The Honourable Dr. Lackram Bode, Minister of Health, Trinidad and Tobago and Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director, CARPHA following the opening ceremony at the second joint Regional Health Security and Regional Coordinating Mechanism for Health Security Meeting, at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad.

Photo Caption: Group photo (L-R) CARPHA Directors Dr. Horace Cox and Dr. Mark Sami; Dr Yoran Grant-Greene, Regional Director, US Center for Disease Control and Prevention-Caribbean and Central America Regional Office; The Honourable Dr Lackram Bodoe, Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago; Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director, CARPHA, Ms Helen Royer, Director, Human Development Directorate of Human and Social Development-CARICOM Secretariat, Ms Leah Marie Richards, Chief, Caribbean Subregional Program, PAHO/WHO - Office of the Caribbean Subregional Program; Ms Dominique Afoon - Senior Associate - Health, Nutrition & Population at InterAmerican Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank. 

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