CARPHA calls for skilled public health workforce to tackle Caribbean’s growing health threats

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has underscored the urgent need for a continuous supply of skilled public health professionals to confront the region’s evolving health challenges, ranging from infectious disease outbreaks to chronic illnesses and climate-related threats.
The call came as CARPHA joined the global community in observing World Field Epidemiology Day under the theme “Making our Mark: Field Epidemiology in Action.” The annual initiative, led by the Training Programmes in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), celebrates the vital contributions of field epidemiologists in strengthening health systems and safeguarding global health security. Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at CARPHA, Dr Horace Cox emphasised that capacity building in the public health workforce remains critical. “The Caribbean needs a continuous supply of skilled public health professionals to meet the various public health priorities of the region. These range from prevention and control of communicable or infectious diseases, non-communicable or chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes and even health threats associated with climate change,” he stated.
CARPHA also hailed the success of its Caribbean Regional Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (CR-FELTP), which has trained more than 450 fellows across 18 Member States since its inception in 2014. The programme equips professionals with expertise in epidemiology, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, emergency response, and public health research.
CARPHA’s Executive Director Dr Lisa Indar, praised epidemiologists as frontline “heroes” who play a critical role in strengthening national health systems.
“Together with other public health professionals, they provide stellar frontline service to national Ministries of Health, by strengthening disease surveillance, investigating outbreaks and responding to disasters,” she said. Looking ahead, Dr Laura-Lee Boodram, Head of the CR-FELTP, revealed that CARPHA is establishing a regional network of graduates to be rapidly deployed in response to health crises.
“In 2025, we are forming a network of CR-FELTP graduates that can be deployed rapidly to assist other countries facing public health emergencies or to assist in the recovery process following the aftermath of storms and hurricanes,” she explained.
The CR-FELTP is affiliated with TEPHINET and supported by key international partners including the United States (US) Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Bank, the European Union (EU) and the Pandemic Fund. CARPHA noted that such collaborations have been essential in advancing its mandate to strengthen the Caribbean’s public health workforce and resilience.
Earlier this year, President Dr Irfaan Ali sounded the alarm on the country’s mounting cardiovascular crisis, revealing that Guyana has the highest cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rate in the Americas, with a staggering 525 deaths per 100,000 people — a rate 2.5 times higher than that of Canada.
“Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Guyana. In fact, our cardiovascular disease rates are among the highest in the entire Americas…Today, we have the opportunity to invest in totality. So, the prevention, the detection and the intervention can all go seamlessly together. This is not the path we want to remain on. This is not a legacy we want to leave for our children. If you are serious about guaranteeing better health outcomes for Guyanese citizens, we must tackle this crisis head on. And not just with words, but with action,” President Ali stated.
After years of isolated investment in segments of the health system, the President said the time had come for a complete, integrated approach to health care — from prevention and education to diagnostics and treatment.
Guyana’s collaboration with CARPHA has strengthened over the years as they increase efforts to comprehensively respond to food-borne diseases, communicable and non-communicable and diabetes.
Back in July, CARPHA through its Caribbean Public Health Laboratory Network (CariPHLN) successfully concluded a strategic and energising three-day workshop in Georgetown, Guyana.
According to CARPHA, the high-level event brought together laboratory directors, senior laboratory professionals, and public health officials from 21 CARPHA Member States, united by a shared commitment to strengthening laboratory capacity and regional coordination.