After COVID, a New Pact: How Caribbean leaders are building health resilience

In a world still reeling from the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly vulnerable to climate-related health threats, the Caribbean isn’t waiting to be rescued. It is taking the lead.

In late July 2025, top public health officials from across the Caribbean region convened in Guyana for a strategic high-level workshop designed to fast-track regional health resilience. Organized under the Regional Health Security Pathway (RHSP), the meeting brought together senior representatives from ministries of health, national security, finance, disaster management, and international partners.

The goal: to translate lessons learned into action, closing the preparedness gaps that have long challenged the region. A representative of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (Ministry VSA) Collective Prevention Service (CPS) recently attended the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) was in attendance.

“This is not just about disease outbreaks anymore,” said one senior CARICOM health advisor at the event. “It’s about climate shocks, economic resilience, and protecting the Caribbean way of life.”

𝐀 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲

Led by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in collaboration with CARICOM, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the World Health Organization (WHO), the RHSP aims to create a shared Caribbean-wide framework for health security. At its core, the initiative encourages member states to integrate health response planning into national development strategies.

From communicable diseases to mental health and waterborne illness, the Caribbean faces a complex web of public health threats. Compounding those risks is the region’s exposure to hurricanes, flooding, heatwaves, and vector-borne diseases, all of which are intensifying due to climate change.

The RHSP is designed to bridge silos, ensuring that emergency preparedness, data collection, early warning systems, and cross-border collaboration are no longer reactive, but proactive, consistent, and funded.

𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬

A standout element of the workshop was the multi-sectoral approach. For the first time, national security agencies, ministries of finance, and disaster offices sat at the same table with public health leaders to identify vulnerabilities and map out cohesive response strategies.

This cross-sector collaboration is critical. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that disjointed national policies, limited lab capacity, and border control inconsistencies could erode even the best-intentioned health plans. The workshop participants acknowledged that fragmented systems only delay progress.

“We must move from a fragmented reaction to a resilient structure,” said Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director of CARPHA. “It’s about protecting lives, livelihoods, and the stability of the region.”

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞

The workshop featured breakout sessions on real-time surveillance systems, climate-health risk assessments, and securing sustainable health financing. Countries were encouraged to adopt and adapt early warning tools, invest in public health infrastructure, and share data and technical expertise across borders.

The RHSP also promotes the use of digital health solutions, recognizing that data-driven systems are essential for tracking disease patterns, managing medical resources, and communicating risks to the public.

Partners such as the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), UNDP, and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) offered support for financing and technical assistance, underscoring international confidence in Caribbean-led solutions.

𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞

The meeting concluded with a clear mandate: each participating country will finalize its National Health Security Action Plan, using RHSP templates to align policies with global standards while preserving regional priorities.

A follow-up assessment is scheduled for early 2026, where countries will report on milestones reached, bottlenecks encountered, and lessons learned. The expectation is that this approach won’t just fortify systems, it will save lives and minimize disruption the next time the Caribbean faces a health or environmental emergency.

𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

The Caribbean’s pursuit of regional health security is more than a policy shift. It’s a statement. A declaration that despite size, geography, or historical vulnerabilities, unity is the region’s greatest strength.

By working together, sharing intelligence, and designing solutions tailored to its unique context, the Caribbean is building a future where resilience isn’t reactive — it’s embedded in the region’s DNA.

And in a world where the next crisis is always on the horizon, the Caribbean’s leadership could serve as a model for others to follow.

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