Caribbean Public Health Agency


The Caribbean Public Health Agency is a regional public health agency headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago which was established by CARICOM leaders in July 2011 and began operation in 2013.
CARPHA combines the functions of five pre-existing regional health institutions:
CARPHA's self-stated mission is "As a professional organisation to build member states' capacity to prevent disease and promote health and wellness through leadership, partnership and innovation in public health".
CARPHA aims to address regional issues including:
During the COVID-19 pandemic CARPHA has been performing tests for 18 countries in the region but warned on 5 April 2020 that they were running short on reagents required for COVID-19 testing and at current levels expected to be able to continue testing for three weeks.
On 9 April 2020, the European Union announced a grant of €8M, which will be implemented by the Caribbean Public Health Agency, for the fight against the coronavirus.
On 11 April 2020, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados who is the current CARICOM Chair, called a special Heads of Government meeting to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and establish a common public health protocol, and border policy. The governments have agreed to the proposal in a virtual meeting.

Membership

Currently CARPHA has 24 full members throughout the Americas.
CountryJoinedPopulation
Anguilla-
Antigua and Barbuda-
Aruba-
Bahamas-
Barbados-
Belize-
Bermuda-
BES Islands -
British Virgin Islands-
Cayman Islands-
Curaçao-
Dominica-
Grenada-
Haiti-
Guyana-
Jamaica-
Montserrat-
Saint Kitts and Nevis-
Saint Lucia-
Sint Maarten-
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines-
Suriname-
Trinidad and Tobago-
Turks and Caicos Islands-