The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has announced the execution of the Pandemic Fund project. This three-year project from 2024 to 2026 is in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The IDB will work as the implementing authority.
It is to be noted that under the Pandemic Fund project, the aim is to reduce the impact of Pandemics on the health of the public in the Caribbean region. All this will be done through three steps that include “Prevention, Preparedness, and Response.”
All this will be done to manage better and mitigate the effects of health crises in Caribbean countries.
Moreover, the project is set to be implemented to unveil the understanding and objectives of this mission and how it would contribute to improving the regional health security and health infrastructure of the Caribbean.
While announcing this project, Dr. Lisa Indar, Interim Executive Director, and Project Director of the Pandemic Fund stated that from now on under the pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) initiative, the way how the people and the authorities in the Caribbean responds to epidemics, pandemics, and outbreaks will change.
Dr. Lisa further shared that PPR activities that have been initiated at the CARPHA will have positive results and will include robust observation systems that will easily monitor and track the disease and collect data.
The data reveals that the Caribbean region is vulnerable to the rapid spread of diseases through transboundary. Because of which it has experienced outbreaks of several infectious diseases which includes Cholera, COVID-19, HIV, Chikungunya, Dengue, Zika, SARS, Norovirus, H1N1. All these spreads have impacted the nations on human, economic, and social aspects.
During COVID-19 the rapid transmission in short span to all Caribbean islands highlighted that all the regions are extremely vulnerable to the infectious diseases.
Further, Alison Drayton, Assistant Secretary-General at CARICOM, stated that the Caribbean region cannot further afford to suffer in terms of healthcare, education, impacts on businesses, and job loss during the time of COVID-19 impact mental health and has left a long-term impression.
She added that the Pandemic Fund Project holds immense significance for the health and well being of the Caribbean community and the authorities ensure to hold transparent and accountable practices.
Moreover, the Pandemic Fund has been approved by the Council for Human and Social Development, also by CARPHA’s Executive Board and other participants, that includes Chief Medical Officers.
