CARPHA Convenes Caribbean Public Health Laboratory Network Meeting
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) convened a hybrid meeting of the Caribbean Public Health Laboratory Network (CariPHLN), from Aug. 12 to 13 at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Meeting Details
The two-day meeting, jointly funded by the Republic of Korea through the Republic of Korea – CARICOM Cooperation Fund, and the European Union (EU), brought together national laboratory directors and managers, and other laboratory personnel from fifteen CARPHA Member States.
Welcome Remarks
Dr. Horace Cox, Acting Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at CARPHA, welcomed participants stating, “This meeting is critical in our ongoing efforts to strengthen laboratory networks across the Region. By bringing together laboratory professionals from CARPHA Member States we are not only addressing current challenges but also laying the foundation for a more resilient and responsive public health infrastructure.”
Meeting Objectives and Outcomes
The meeting aimed to review laboratory portfolios of CARPHA Member States (CMS) to evaluate and in-country capacities, needs, and gaps; discuss the development of regional laboratory hubs and a framework for integrating advanced diagnostic technologies and methodologies for reference testing.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the establishment of Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) focusing on key areas:
- Antimicrobial Resistance Testing
- Sample Transportation
- Food and Environment
- Genomic Expansion and Surveillance
“The formation of the TAGs represents a commitment to providing expert guidance, supporting informed policymaking, promoting innovation and quality assurance, building capacity, engaging stakeholders, enhancing crisis response, and ensuring transparency and accountability. This is a critical step towards achieving greater collaboration, efficiency, and impact in laboratory services,” stated Dr. SueMin Nathaniel, Laboratory Manager and Officer-in-Charge of Laboratory Services and Networks at CARPHA.
Other key outcomes of the meeting included:
- The revision of the CariPHLN organisational chart
- Updates on improved CMS laboratory capacities
- The identification of key CMS to serve as laboratory hubs to assist in regional testing
Conclusion
The meeting marked an important step in strengthening the region’s laboratory networks, promoting collaboration and capacity building among Member States. The establishment of TAGs and laboratory hubs will facilitate the integration of advanced diagnostic technologies and methodologies, ultimately improving public health infrastructure and response to emergencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
* What was the purpose of the CARPHA meeting? The meeting aimed to strengthen laboratory networks across the region, promote collaboration and capacity building among Member States.
* What was established at the meeting? Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) were established, focusing on key areas such as antimicrobial resistance testing, sample transportation, food and environment, and genomic expansion and surveillance.
* What is the significance of the TAGs? The formation of TAGs represents a commitment to providing expert guidance, supporting informed policymaking, promoting innovation and quality assurance, building capacity, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring transparency and accountability.
* What are the benefits of the laboratory hubs? The laboratory hubs will facilitate the integration of advanced diagnostic technologies and methodologies, ultimately improving public health infrastructure and response to emergencies.