About

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is the new single regional public health agency for the Caribbean. It was legally established in July 2011 by an Inter-Governmental Agreement signed by Caribbean Community Member States and began operation in January 2013. The Agency rationalises public health arrangements in the Region by combining the functions of five Caribbean Regional Health Institutes (RHIs) into a single agency. They are:

• 1. The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI)
• 2. The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC)
• 3. The Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI)
• 4. The Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC)
• 5. The Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (CRDTL)

“I believe that it is within the scope of CARPHA, to make a difference in the Caribbean; to improve health and wellbeing, reduce inequities, reduce the upward cost spiral in health services, and improve development prospects of Caribbean people. Dr. C J Hospedales Former Executive Director

CARPHA brings these RHIs together as one strong force under a public health umbrella under which issues requiring a regional response can be addressed. These include:

• 1. Emergency responses to disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding),
• 2. The surveillance and management of non communicable diseases (NDCs) that have reached epidemic proportions such as obesity, cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
• 3. The surveillance and management of communicable diseases (CDs), including HIV / AIDS; re-emerging diseases, like tuberculosis in association with HIV/AIDS; and new communicable diseases that are now endemic in the region
• 4. The surveillance and prevention of injuries, violence and job related illnesses.
• 5. Contribution to global health agreements and compliance with international health regulations

The Agency is the Caribbean Region’s collective response to strengthening and reorienting our health system approach so that we are equipped to address the changing nature of public health challenges. The approach is people-centred and evidence-based. See our corporate materials below.

CARPHA's Objectives

The objectives of CARPHA are:

• to promote the physical and mental health and wellness of people within the Caribbean;
• to provide strategic direction, in analysing, defining and responding to public health priorities of the Caribbean Community;
• to promote and develop measures for the prevention of disease in the Caribbean;
• to support the Caribbean Community in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies and threats;
• to support solidarity in health, as one of the principal pillars of functional cooperation in the Caribbean Community; and
• to support the relevant objectives of the Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH).

CARPHA's Mission

As a professional organisation to build member states' capacity to prevent disease and promote health and wellness through leadership, partnership and innovation in public health.

CARPHA's Vision

Healthy People, Healthy Spaces, Healthy Caribbean. Declaration of Port-of-Spain

Publications

• CARPHA Corporate Booklet
• CARPHA Environmental Health Sustainable Development Brochure
• CARPHA Medicines Quality Control and Surveillance Department (MQCSD) Brochure
• CARPHA Inaugural Annual Report 2013
• CARPHA Strategic Plan
• CARPHA State of Public Health Inaugural Report 2013
• CARPHA State of Public Health in the Caribbean 2014-2016

Posters

• Who We Are
• What We Do
• Our Priorities
• Medicines Quality Control and Surveillance Department
• Medicines Quality Control and Surveillance Department PMS Programme