The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) today launched a five-year strategic health plan aimed at tackling the region’s biggest health threats, including infectious and non-communicable diseases.
The plan was launched at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, under the theme, “Stronger Together: Advancing Caribbean Health through Collaboration, Innovation, and Sustainable Action.”
In delivering the keynote address, Deputy Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Dr Armstrong Alexis, commended CARPHA on its results-based driven approach towards strategic implementation.
“The CARICOM Secretariat sees this strategic plan as an opportunity to strengthen structured collaboration and a roadmap to guide how member states align their priorities and collaborate on critical regional imperatives. This will require coordinated approaches to results mobilisation, clear implementation across the health landscape and joint reporting on progress on regional development outcomes,” he indicated.
Delivering remarks virtually, Chairman of CARPHA’s Executive Board, Minister Philip A. Telesford, said the plan builds on lessons learned from threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for stronger surveillance systems and smarter investments in health infrastructure.
“The unveiling of CARPHA 2025-2030 Strategic Plan is not just a technical milestone. It is a bold declaration of political will, leadership in action, and of our unwavering commitment,” he said.
Telesford added that the plan is about investing in systems and empowering institutions, as he stressed that such plans are only as good as their implementation.
In her remarks, Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr Lisa Indar, said the event marks not only the unveiling of a document, but the reaffirmation of a regional commitment to safeguard the health and well-being of every Caribbean citizen.
“This strategic plan was developed through a highly consultative and participatory process, with input solicited from member states, regional and international institutions which all helped to ensure it targets the current as well as the merging public health needs,” she noted.
Indar added that the new plan will also pave the way for improved collaboration and coordination with institutions and international development partners.
The event was sponsored by the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Health Security Strengthening for Prevention and Control of Outbreaks of Communicable Diseases in the Caribbean.
