The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) have strengthened their longstanding partnership with the signing of a 2026–2030 Framework Agreement, demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing public health priorities across the Caribbean. The agreement provides an operational framework to support a unified regional vision for health, enhancing coordination and collaboration amid growing and complex health challenges, particularly in a context of limited resources and significant public health needs.
Spanning five years, the Framework Agreement positions both agencies to work strategically under the PAHO–CARICOM Joint Subregional Cooperation Strategy. It aims to support Member States in strengthening health systems, improving preparedness, and advancing population health outcomes. The agreement underscores a trusted partnership grounded in shared responsibility, mutual accountability, and a common goal of improving the health and well-being of people in the region.
PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa highlighted that the agreement enables the agencies to jointly develop regional strategies, implement health programs aligned with strategic plans, and provide technical cooperation responsive to country needs. He emphasized that the agreement also establishes a framework for subsidiary agreements, ensuring transparency, accountability, and results-based implementation. CARPHA Executive Director Dr. Lisa Indar noted that Caribbean countries expect limited resources to be used efficiently and effectively, which can be achieved through stronger collaboration, streamlined implementation, reduced duplication, and a lighter operational burden on Member States.
PAHO has supported CARPHA in multiple priority areas, including the Caribbean Regulatory System, laboratory strengthening, climate resilience and environmental health, non-communicable disease prevention, risk communication and community engagement, and emergency preparedness and response, including foodborne disease preparedness. Both agencies look forward to deepening collaborations over the next five years, translating the Framework Agreement into measurable improvements in health outcomes for Caribbean populations.
Founded in 1902, PAHO serves as the specialized health agency of the Inter-American system and the Regional Office for WHO in the Americas, working to improve the health and quality of life of the population. CARPHA is the lead regional public health agency for the Caribbean, providing strategic direction, coordinating public health responses, and delivering laboratory, surveillance, and technical services to prevent disease, promote health, and respond to public health emergencies.
