The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs continues to take proactive measures to safeguard the nation’s borders and protect public health amid ongoing global concerns regarding Ebola disease and other emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats.
As part of these efforts, the Ministry convened a high-level interagency preparedness meeting on Monday, 1 June 2026, bringing together key stakeholders responsible for public health, border security, emergency management, and national response coordination.
The meeting focused on reviewing and strengthening Antigua and Barbuda’s preparedness and response framework for Ebola disease while reinforcing readiness for other infectious disease threats of public health importance.
The meeting was chaired by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Stacey Gregg-Paige and brought together the Ministry’s senior technical leadership, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kamara De Castro, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Teri-Ann Joseph, and Acting Chief Health Inspector Mr. Daryl Spencer.
The discussions also included agency heads and senior representatives from the Central Board of Health (CBH), the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, the Antigua and Barbuda Emergency Medical Services, as well as the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS), the Department of Immigration, the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority, the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, and the Ministry of Tourism.
While there are currently no reported cases of Ebola disease in Antigua and Barbuda and the risk of Ebola disease occurring locally remains low, the Ministry emphasized that recent international developments underscore the importance of maintaining a high level of vigilance and operational readiness.
Participants received updates on ongoing preparedness activities aimed at strengthening the country’s readiness for infectious disease threats and reviewed measures already in place across key sectors. Discussions also focused on the country’s existing prevention, detection, reporting, and response protocols; interagency coordination mechanisms; and opportunities to further strengthen national preparedness and response capacity.
Participants reviewed current preparedness plans, examined potential response scenarios, identified operational gaps, and discussed measures to enhance coordination, communication, and resource mobilization across agencies.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for participating agencies to present updates on their respective preparedness activities and to identify areas requiring additional training, equipment, or support.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the health and well-being of residents and visitors alike and will continue to work closely with local, regional, and international partners to strengthen national health security and maintain a coordinated and effective preparedness and response framework for infectious disease threats and other public health emergencies.