Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. 7 May 2024. As anticipation builds for the upcoming ICC T20 Cricket World Cup in June 2024, public health preparations for these international mass gathering events are underway.
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), through the Caribbean Public Health Laboratory Network (CariPHLN), is working with the Member States that are hosting the Cricket World Cup, to provide an integrated laboratory response, which will enhance and standardise laboratory services within the host countries while also ensuring the availability of appropriate complementary reference/referral services at CARPHA.
“CARPHA takes its responsibility for providing laboratory services very seriously and therefore the extension of lab services for Cricket World Cup is part of the way we are teaming up with Member States for this international event,” said Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director of CARPHA. A CariPHLN Cricket World Cup Lab Directors’ WhatsApp Group has been established for rapid communication with Laboratory Heads of host countries and CARPHA. Additionally, CariPHLN Cricket World Cup Meetings are being held to plan and review preparations for the Caribbean’s hosting of the World Cup.
“Comprehensive testing and analysis services will be in place before and during the event, to ensure the health and safety of players and spectators alike. To further facilitate the provision of an excellent laboratory service by the region during the T20 World Cup 2024, several services are being implemented,” stated Dr Michelle Hamilton, Head of Laboratory Services & Networks at CARPHA.
These services will include:
- The provision of reagents and supplies for the testing of priority pathogens.
- The provision of CARPHA Mobile Testing Units, inclusive of personnel, equipment and reagents, to host countries. Mobile units will utilise portable, point-of-care Truelab Real Time Quantitative Micro-PCR Systems for rapid PCR testing for select organisms (less than 2 hours turnaround time).
- Reference/Referral testing services at CARPHA.
- Training and development of laboratory protocols for the mass gatherings and emergency response.
In addition, environmental testing services will be provided by the CARPHA Environmental Laboratory at the Environmental Health and Sustainable Development Department located in Saint Lucia. The services include testing of food samples in the event of an outbreak of foodborne illnesses.
International Air Transport Association (IATA)-based training in the shipping of infectious substances, and refresher courses in pathogen detection, will be offered by CARPHA, as required. A logistics team will also be formed to facilitate the movement of reagents and equipment through the various ports of entry. Simulation exercises are being planned at relevant entry ports, as well as joint exercises for all host countries and CARPHA.
About CARIPHLN
The Caribbean Public Health Laboratory Network (CariPHLN) is a specialized network established in 2015 which seeks to enable the collaboration among Diagnostic, Environmental, Public Health, Research and Veterinary Laboratories across the Caribbean Member State (CMS) laboratory community to positively improve the lives of nationals and visitors alike in the Caribbean Community.
https://carpha.org/What-We-Do/LABS/CariPHLN