PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Friday said it has signed an agreement with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) formalising their continued partnership.
It said that the signing of the 2026–2030 Framework Agreement reinforces a shared commitment to advancing public health priorities across the Caribbean.
The agreement provides an operational framework to support a unified regional vision for health, strengthening coordination and collaboration at a time when Caribbean countries face growing, complex health challenges and limited resources, while public health needs remain significant.
It positions both agencies to work more strategically to deliver results under the PAHO–CARICOM Joint Subregional Cooperation Strategy, supporting member states in strengthening health systems, improving preparedness, and advancing population health outcomes.
The agreement also marks the continuation of a long-standing, trusted partnership between PAHO and CARPHA, grounded in shared responsibility, mutual accountability, and a common goal of improving health and well-being for the people of the region.
“This agreement enables PAHO and CARPHA to jointly develop regional strategies and plans of action, implement health programmes aligned with our strategic plans and programme budgets, and provide technical cooperation that is responsive to country needs,” said PAHO director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, in remarks during the virtual signing ceremony.
“It also establishes a clear framework for subsidiary agreements, ensuring transparency, accountability, and results-based implementation,” he added.
CARPHA’s executive director, Dr. Lisa Indar, Caribbean countries rightly expect that the limited resources available for technical cooperation are used “efficiently, effectively, and strategically to achieve the greatest possible impact for our Caribbean citizens.
“This can only be achieved through stronger collaboration, streamlined implementation, reduced duplication, and a lighter operational burden on our member states,” she added.
PAHO has supported CARPHA in multiple priority areas, including the Caribbean Regulatory System; laboratory strengthening; climate resilience and environmental health; non-communicable diseases, risk communication and community engagement; and emergency preparedness and response, including foodborne disease preparedness.
CARPHA and PAHO say they look forward to deepening their collaborations over the next five years and to translating this Framework Agreement into measurable improvements in health outcomes for the people of the Caribbean.
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