Founded in July 2011 by an intergovernmental agreement signed by the heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), comprises 26 member states, primarily composed of English- and Dutch-speaking islands. Three continental states are part of it: Belize, Suriname and Guyana. Furthermore, Haiti is the only French-speaking country to be part of CARICOM.
Thanks to a first collaboration with the French Development Agency (AFD) in 2019, CARPHA has developed partnerships with public health institutions in the French Overseas Departments of the Caribbean region. The objective is to continue to strengthen the capacities and resilience of regional health systems in order to respond to regional public health priorities, threats and emergencies, while capitalizing on France's technical and scientific expertise in the region to promote a more effective and coordinated response at the Caribbean-Guyana regional level.
Regionalization of strategic information in public health
This first project served as a catalyst for CARPHA, Public Health France (SPF) as well as the regional health agencies (ARS) of the Caribbean-Guyana to standardize the mutual exchange of epidemiological surveillance bulletins and situation reports. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has also been involved in research projects on acute respiratory diseases and vector-borne diseases like dengue, as well as increasing technical exchanges on health security issues regional infections such as COVID-19 and MPOX. This increased exchange of information offers the potential to strengthen public health preparedness and response. “ These exchanges were established during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the bulletins published by the SPF on trends in the French Caribbean territories proved very useful for CARPHA Member States as they anticipated or confirmed the epidemiological trends »underlines Dr. Lisa Indar, interim executive director of CARPHA.
AFD's support for the first virtual edition of the 65th annual CARPHA health research conference in 2021 resulted in greater participation of French representatives of public health authorities (Centre hospitalier universitaire de Martinique (CHUM), ARS Martinique and Guadeloupe, SPF), research establishments and universities. This annual event, now back in person, offers participants the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of cutting-edge research in the region. It also allows us to build links with public health institutions and development partners in CARPHA member states. Finally, it facilitates the identification of new collaboration opportunities.
Cancer surveillance is one of them
In June 2018, the Martinique Cancer Registry became a collaborating center of the Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR). It was thus recognized as an expert center to support the Caribbean Hub work plan. “ The official signing, on December 13, 2022, of a memorandum of understanding between CARPHA and the CHUM established the general framework of collaboration between the International Cancer Research Center (IARC), the Caribbean Cancer Registry Hub of CARPHA and the Martinique Cancer Registry, says Doctor Clarisse Joachim, director of the Martinique Cancer Registry. The objective is to improve, in a coordinated manner, the quality and population coverage of national cancer registries in the Caribbean through technical advice, training, networking and advocacy for the essential role of these registries in the fight against cancer and its surveillance. » In this context, Doctor Clarisse Joachim joined, alongside Doctor Jacqueline Véronique-Baudin and Rémi Houpert from the Cancer Research and Development unit, the Steering Committee of the GIRC Cancer Registries Hub in the Caribbean and participates in bimonthly meetings.
Towards increased cooperation with French overseas territories
The prevalence of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension, is a major concern for CARPHA Member States and French Overseas Departments in the region. Thanks to the support of AFD, CARPHA carried out two missions in Martinique during the project. Technical exchanges took place with the ARS, the CHUM and patient support groups from civil society. These exchanges offer opportunities, as shown by the local adaptation by ARS Martinique of the CARPHA MOVES initiative to promote physical activity: “Martinique moves”.
Martinique's candidacy to join CARICOM represents a crucial strategic lever for regional cooperation, particularly in public health. This membership would facilitate the exchange of data, expertise and good practices between Martinique and other CARICOM member states. It would also enable active participation in regional initiatives aimed at addressing new health challenges, such as epidemics and chronic diseases, by pooling resources and coordinating efforts.
Strengthening links with CARPHA and other Caribbean territories would make it possible to develop more coherent and adapted health policies. This would promote innovation and tailor-made solutions for the region. In this context, AFD and CARPHA continue to strengthen their partnership to respond to the public health priorities of the Caribbean.
By Camille Guigonnet
