Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. August 6, 2026. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), through its Caribbean Public Health Laboratory Network (CariPHLN), successfully conducted a comprehensive assessment of the Analytisch Diagnostisch Centrum (ADC) NV, Curaçao's National Public Health Laboratory on June 15th –17th 2026. This assessment was supported through the Pandemic Fund grant, with CARPHA serving as the Executing Agency and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity.
The intervention improved Curaçao’s access to regional reference laboratory services, enhanced turnaround times, and strengthened cross-border surveillance and response capabilities. It further supports equitable access to specialised diagnostic testing and contributes to a more integrated and resilient regional laboratory network. Conducting in-country assessment of the laboratory capacity for pandemic preparedness and response (PPR) strengthens national public health laboratory capacity across the Region to become better prepared for future pandemics.
CariPHLN Coordinator Mrs. Nadia Ram-Bhola led the assessment and evaluated the laboratory's operational performance, quality management systems, biosafety and biosecurity practices, diagnostic capacity, and pandemic preparedness and response using CARPHA's Laboratory Assessment Tool (LAT) and PPR Checklist. Member States depend on both in-country and regional laboratory services for the detection and confirmation of infectious diseases. However, recent public health emergencies highlighted how diagnostics and laboratory capacity are essential but often ignored pillars of both a responsive health system and effective global health security.
Speaking on the success of the mission, Dr. Lisa Indar, CARPHA’s Executive Director shared, “Public health emergencies know no borders. Strengthening laboratory systems in Curaçao through standardised assessments and continuous improvement contributes directly to a more connected, resilient, and prepared Caribbean, capable of responding rapidly to emerging health threats”.
Successful execution of health security and laboratory strengthening projects requires local capacity to support implementation, including focal points who understand and apply the LAT. Dr. Claudy Olivera Dos Santo, ADC Microbiologist, Curaçao National Public Health Laboratory stated, “It was a great pleasure for the national lab of Curaçao ADC NV to be audited by CARPHA. This contributes to our knowledge and expertise and also the learning opportunities from our Caribbean colleagues are very important for us to maintain excellent quality of care together”.
The exercise included comprehensive reviews of laboratory operations, technical and administrative systems, specimen collection services, procurement and inventory management, quality assurance processes, and multiple facility walkthroughs. It also examined the laboratory's readiness to respond to public health emergencies, strengthen national laboratory systems, and support regional surveillance and outbreak response. In addition, the assessment identified strategic opportunities to further enhance pandemic preparedness, workforce resilience, and emergency governance.
The mission supports CARPHA's strategic priority of strengthening laboratory systems across the Caribbean and contributes to Curaçao's efforts to enhance its core capacities under the International Health Regulations (2005). It also reinforces regional collaboration by aligning national laboratory systems with CARPHA's laboratory strengthening framework and promoting greater integration through the Caribbean Public Health Laboratory Network.
CARPHA remains committed to working with Curaçao and its Member States to build resilient, high-quality laboratory systems that protect the health of Caribbean populations and strengthen the Region's preparedness for future public health emergencies.
About CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund:
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), as the sole regional public health agency, is executing the Pandemic Fund (PF) Project with the International Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity, from 2024-2026. The Goal of this Project is to Reduce the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (PPR). The Objective is to support CARPHA in reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean region which will serve to build PPR surveillance and Early Warning Systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity regionally at CARPHA and at country levels.
Photo Captions:
Photo Caption: Photo 1 - CARPHA's Nadia Ram-Bhola along with Ms. Nedine Melien, senior medical Technologist Chemistry ADC.
Photo Caption: Photo -2 (L-R) Dr. Claudy Olivera Dos Santos, ADC Microbiologist, Mrs. Nadia Ram-Bhola, CariPHLN Coordinator and Mrs. Liane Virginia-Cova. ADC Laboratory Director following the preliminary debrief of laboratory assessment findings.
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