Building a Skilled Public Health Workforce
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has launched a five-day, in-person training workshop under the Caribbean Regional Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (CR-FELTP) – Level II, aimed at strengthening public health response capacity across the region. The workshop is taking place from February 17-21, 2025, at the Kapok Hotel, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, and is funded by the Pandemic Fund, with CARPHA as the Executing Agency and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity.
Eleven Trainees from Five CARPHA Member States
This year’s FELTP Level II cohort includes eleven (11) trainees from five CARPHA Member States – Bahamas, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Turks & Caicos Islands – representing key public health sectors, including epidemiology, surveillance, laboratory science, and environmental health. Participants will gain advanced training in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and epidemiological data analysis using specialized tools like Epi Info (a statistical software suite designed for epidemiological data analysis and disease surveillance, developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC).
Enhancing Regional Health Security
The CR-FELTP training aligns with the broader Pandemic Fund objectives of reducing the public health impact of pandemics through prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR). By expanding the cadre of trained public health professionals, CARPHA will continue to bolster the region’s ability to respond swiftly to outbreaks and mitigate public health risks before they escalate.
Key Highlights
- The workshop follows a One Health approach, incorporating human, animal, and environmental health perspectives to improve multi-sectoral collaboration in disease surveillance and public health response.
- Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director of CARPHA, welcomed participants and underscored the importance of the training: "Strengthening the public health workforce is one of the most crucial investments we can make to safeguard the Caribbean against emerging and re-emerging health threats."
- Dr. Laura Lee-Boodram, Head of the CR-FELTP at CARPHA, highlighted the long-term impact of this initiative: "The CR-FELTP has been a cornerstone of workforce development in the region, producing skilled epidemiologists who play critical roles in disease detection and response."
- The workshop will continue for the next five days, with trainees engaging in interactive sessions, data analysis exercises, and scenario-based learning to refine their ability to interpret surveillance data and make evidence-based public health decisions.
Conclusion
CARPHA is committed to supporting Member States through capacity-building initiatives that strengthen health systems, enhance regional disease surveillance, and improve pandemic preparedness. This training is a critical step in building a skilled public health workforce that can detect, analyze, and respond rapidly to public health emergencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of the CR-FELTP training?
The CR-FELTP training aims to strengthen public health response capacity across the region by building a skilled public health workforce. - Which countries are participating in the training?
Eleven trainees from five CARPHA Member States – Bahamas, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Turks & Caicos Islands – are participating in the training. - What is the duration of the training?
The training will continue for five days, from February 17-21, 2025. - What is the goal of the Pandemic Fund?
The Pandemic Fund aims to reduce the public health impact of pandemics through prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR).
About The Author
