Senior officials from the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment, and Civil Service Affairs are currently participating in a high-level regional meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, focused on advancing the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA) Strategic Priority Areas.

Permanent Secretary, Colin O’Keiffe, Chief Medical Officer, Kamaria Decastro, and Director of Infrastructure Development, Gary Thomas are in attendance in ongoing discussions with regional counterparts. The meeting aims to align member states on a coordinated path forward in strengthening health systems, improving public health responses, and promoting resilient and sustainable development in the region.

Key thematic areas under discussion include the expansion of access to trained health professionals, the enhancement of disease surveillance and response systems, and the improvement of availability and affordability of essential medicines, vaccines, and health products. Discussions also centre around the strengthening of laboratory services, building capacities for safe and health-promoting environments, improving readiness for public health emergencies, and reinforcing efforts to prevent and control non-communicable diseases through a whole-country, multisectoral approach. Delegates are also focused on enhancing the use of data to support evidence-informed decision making in public health planning and policy.

The presence of the national delegation reflects the continued commitment of Antigua and Barbuda to regional cooperation and the collective advancement of public health priorities across the Caribbean.