From 26 to 27 January 2026, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, hosted a training workshop in Antigua and Barbuda to strengthen disease monitoring using digital tools. The workshop was part of the Pandemic Fund project for Eastern Caribbean countries and aimed to enhance the country’s capacity to track health trends and respond to outbreaks more effectively.
The two-day training focused on DHIS2, a globally recognized digital platform for monitoring infectious and non‑communicable diseases, as well as other health information. Implementing DHIS2 will enable the Ministry to access, analyse, and visualise health data in real time, supporting informed decision-making across all levels of the health system and improving outbreak detection and public health planning.
Approximately 50 health professionals participated, representing a diverse range of roles including registered nurses, public health nurses, district nurse midwives, community health aides, statisticians, IT personnel, and epidemiologists. The sessions combined hands-on exercises and interactive discussions, covering disease surveillance and PAHO’s HEARTS initiative to improve hypertension control in the Americas. Participants gained practical skills in digital data entry and interpretation, while the workshop also highlighted opportunities to further develop digital literacy and confidence.
As DHIS2 continues to be rolled out, additional public health data will be integrated into the platform, enhancing the Ministry’s ability to monitor population health, respond swiftly to emerging threats, and plan services efficiently. PAHO, through the Pandemic Fund project, will continue supporting Antigua and Barbuda and the wider OECS region to build a more resilient, comprehensive, and timely digital health system.
