Castries, Saint Lucia. April 1, 2026. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on March 26th, 2026, officially launched its Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Regional Reference Laboratory at its Saint Lucia campus, marking a major milestone in strengthening laboratory capacity and public health response in Saint Lucia and across the Caribbean.
The Minister of Health, Wellness and Nutrition, (MoHWN) Saint Lucia, Honourable Moses Jn Baptiste, officially launched the facility, jointly unveiling the commemorative plaque with Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director, CARPHA. Representatives from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and as well as Saint Lucia’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Permanent Secretary (PS), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the CARICOM Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), and the Regional Security System (RSS) were also in attendance, underscoring the importance of sustained multidisciplinary partnerships in advancing Regional Health Security.
The new facility, now within CARPHA’s Environmental Health and Sustainable Development Department (EHSD), represents a significant advancement in CARPHA and the Region’s ability to detect, monitor, and respond to antimicrobial resistance, while also expanding broader, more timely clinical diagnostic services across CARPHA’s regional laboratory network.
Funded through the Fleming Fund and supported by the UKHSA and the UK Department of Health and Social Care, under the Caribbean Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA), the initiative reflects a strong partnership between global and regional stakeholders committed to addressing one of the most pressing public health threats of our time. The establishment of the Saint Lucia laboratory forms part of a wider effort to strengthen CARPHA’s three referral laboratories across Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia. This integrated network is designed to improve access to high-quality diagnostic services for CARPHA’s 26 Member States, reducing turnaround times, enhancing surveillance, and enabling more timely public health action.
Through UK’s investments totaling approximately USD 2.5 million across CARPHA’s three regional laboratory network, CARPHA has significantly expanded the scope and timeliness of its diagnostic capabilities. This includes the installation of advanced technologies such as VITEK 2, VITEK MS Prime, BioFire multiplex PCR systems, and GeneXpert platforms, alongside laboratory refurbishment and workforce strengthening. These upgrades support rapid pathogen identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and expanded testing for a range of infectious diseases affecting the Region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Lisa Indar, emphasised the broader impact of the initiative, stating: “This laboratory is not only about antimicrobial resistance, but also about transforming how we deliver public health and clinical testing across the Caribbean. By strengthening and connecting our laboratories in Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica, we are bringing services closer to our Member States, reducing turnaround times, and enabling faster, more effective public health action to protect our populations.” Dr. Indar also highlighted that the laboratory is not only a critical asset in the fight against AMR, but also a key component in transforming how public health and clinical testing services is delivered across the Caribbean. By decentralising testing capacity and bringing services closer to Member States, the initiative strengthens the resilience and responsiveness of the Regional Health System.
Delivering the keynote address at the launch, the Honourable Moses Jn Baptiste, Minister of Health, Wellness and Nutrition, Saint Lucia shared, “This event symbolises CARPHA’s strategic investment in the Caribbean health security resilience and future”. Minister Baptiste further added, “This facility also symbolises partnership – CARPHA has and continues to serve as a pillar of regional cooperation, uniting Member States in the pursuit of stronger public health systems. Today’s milestone reflects what can be achieved when governments, regional institutions and international partners work together to a shared vision”.
The Saint Lucia facility is uniquely positioned to serve the Eastern Caribbean, supporting more efficient sample referral, improving testing turnaround times, and ensuring equitable access to advanced diagnostics across geographically dispersed island states. In addition to microbiology and AMR testing, the laboratory is equipped to support integrated testing across human, environmental, water, and food samples, advancing a One Health approach to disease surveillance and response.
The launch builds on the momentum generated in May 2025, just under a year ago, when CARPHA and its partners introduced the Integrated AMR Programme under CARA, signaling a coordinated regional response grounded in collaboration, innovation, and data-driven decision-making. Since then, CARPHA has made significant progress in strengthening laboratory networks, expanding surveillance systems, inclusive of outfitting the laboratories with new equipment, hiring staff, and building technical capacity across at CARPHA and Member States.
CARPHA reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all Member States, regardless of size or capacity, have access to timely, high-quality laboratory services, and to continuing collaboration with international partners to address current and emerging public health threats.
Photo Captions:
Photo #1: The Honourable Moses Jn Baptiste, Minister of Health, Wellness and Nutrition, Saint Lucia congratulates Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director, CARPHA following the unveiling the commemorative plaque at the launch of AMR Regional Referral Laboratory and Clinical Testing, at the CARPHA Saint Lucia Campus.
Photo #2: (L-R) Dr. Sharon Belmar-George, Chief Medical Officer, MoHWN; Dr. Colin Brown, Deputy Director with responsibility for AMR, UKHSA; Dr. Natalie Wright, Head of the UK Overseas Territories Programme, UKHSA; the Honourable Moses Jn. Baptiste, Minister of Health, Wellness and Nutrition, Saint Lucia; Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director, CARPHA; Ms. Jenny Daniel, Permanent Secretary, MoHWN; Dr. Mark Sami, CARPHA Director and Mr. Mohamed Elsherbiny, Senior Technical Advisor, CARPHA.
Photo #3: CARPHA Executives and Management at the Launch of the AMR Regional Referral Laboratory (L-R) Mr. Mohamed Elsherbiny, Senior Technical Advisor –Office of the Executive Director; Dr. Gabriel Escobar, Assistant Director- Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control (SDPC), Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director, Dr. Mark Sami, Director- Corporate Services, Mr. Shane Kirton, Head-Environmental Health and Sustainable Development (EHSD) and Mr. Chatoyer Bobb, Senior Technical Officer – OECS.