The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) has partnered with an overseas humanitarian organization to strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s response capacity in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

The collaboration followed a consultation with local stakeholders in August and led to a three-day training earlier this month focusing on freshwater treatment and water quality testing.

Thirty-two participants representing the NODS, Central Board of Health (CBH), Department of Analytical Services, Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross, National Solid Waste Management Authority, and Department of Environment took part in the sessions.

As part of the hands-on training, participants visited several key facilities across the island, including Caribbean Water Treatment, the APUA Water Testing Lab, the Ivan Rodrigues Reverse Osmosis Plant, and Potworks Dam. They also conducted field water testing exercises at Lightfoot Pond.

The initiative forms part of NODS’s ongoing efforts to enhance national preparedness and resilience in disaster response and public health management.