The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says it has strengthened the region’s ability to detect, monitor and respond to vector-borne diseases through new surveillance technologies and harmonized early warning systems.
The advancements were made during a Regional Multisectoral Workshop on “Advancing Regional Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance through Technology and Harmonization,” held from April 27 to 28 at the Pegasus Hotel Exhibition Center in Georgetown, Guyana.
The workshop was funded through CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund Project and brought together 28 participants, including vector control and epidemiology officers from 12 CARPHA member states, members of the Caribbean Vector-Borne Disease Network (CariVecNet) Steering Committee and CARPHA technical staff.
According to CARPHA, the workshop formed part of a broader regional effort to improve pandemic preparedness and public health response systems across the Caribbean.
The agency said previous workshops held in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago focused on integrated vector management, insecticide resistance testing and geographic information systems.
This latest session focused on standardizing regional datasets, validating early warning indicators and integrating new technologies to support faster, data-driven public health responses.
CARPHA Executive Director Dr. Lisa Indar said vector-borne diseases continue to pose a major threat to health systems and communities across the Caribbean.
She explained that CARPHA is working closely with member states to strengthen systems that can detect risks earlier and improve regional response capabilities.
“Through CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund Project, we are advancing integrated early warning systems, building technical capacity, and supporting the use of data and new technologies to guide timely public health action across the Region,” Dr. Indar said.
CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Horace Cox, stressed that effective surveillance remains central to public health preparedness.
He noted that improving the way countries collect, analyze and share vector-borne disease data would strengthen the Caribbean’s ability to detect threats early and coordinate responses across the region.
The workshop also examined the use of several advanced technologies, including remote sensing, artificial intelligence-enabled risk mapping, social listening platforms and DHIS2 digital health information systems.
Participants also reviewed regional early warning indicators and explored ways to better integrate epidemiological, laboratory, climate and geographic information data.
CARPHA’s Head of Vector-Borne Diseases, Dr. Roshan Parasram, described integrated vector management, insecticide resistance testing and geographic information systems as essential components of a modern vector control system.
The agency said discussions during the workshop are expected to improve regional reporting systems, strengthen surveillance coordination and support faster targeting of vector control interventions.
CARPHA also confirmed that member states identified priority innovations suited to their national needs and discussed the requirements for implementation, including stronger data systems, workforce capacity, and governance arrangements.
The Pandemic Fund Project, which runs from 2024 to 2026, aims to reduce the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean through stronger prevention, preparedness, and response systems.
CARPHA serves as the executing agency for the project, while the Inter-American Development Bank acts as the implementing entity.