Urgent Need for Strengthened Regional Health Security highlighted at CARPHA Meeting

“Health emergencies affect far more than health; they impact economies, education, tourism, trade, and national security.”

– Helen Royer, Director of Human Development | CARICOM Secretariat

Director of Human Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Helen Royer, delivered remarks at the opening of the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s Second Joint Regional Health Security (RHS) and Regional Coordinating Mechanism for Health Security (RCM-HS) Meeting, taking place from 9 – 11 June in Trinidad and Tobago.

In her address, Ms Royer underscored the increasingly complex and interconnected challenges facing health systems across the Community, noting that “health emergencies affect far more than health; they impact economies, education, tourism, trade, and national security.”

She highlighted global concerns such as Ebola outbreaks, emerging infectious diseases, and the health impacts of climate change, stressing the importance of preparedness and resilience. Ms Royer also referenced discussions at the Seventy-Ninth World Health Assembly, which reinforced the need for stronger pandemic preparedness, equitable access to vaccines and medical countermeasures, and sustainable financing for health security.

“Health security is not solely a national issue. It requires coordination, trust, timely information-sharing, and sustained regional cooperation,” she stated, reaffirming CARICOM’s longstanding commitment to regional collaboration through strengthened surveillance networks, enhanced laboratory partnerships, and CARPHA’s leadership in implementing the regional health security framework.

Please read her complete speech below:

Salutations.

It is a pleasure to join you in Trinidad and Tobago for these important Regional Health Security and Regional Coordinating Mechanism meetings.

On behalf of the CARICOM Secretariat, I extend warm greetings and acknowledge your continued commitment to strengthening public health systems across our Region. I also commend CARPHA for its leadership in advancing regional surveillance, preparedness, and response.

Today, our health systems face increasingly complex and interconnected challenges that no single country can address alone. Recent years have shown us that health emergencies affect far more than health – they impact economies, education, tourism, trade, and national security.

The Caribbean continues to face multiple pressures. Globally, concerns such as Ebola outbreaks, emerging infectious diseases, and the health impacts of climate change, highlight the importance of preparedness and resilience.

Discussions at the Seventy-Ninth World Health Assembly also reinforced the need for stronger pandemic preparedness, equitable access to vaccines and medical countermeasures, and sustainable financing for health security. At the same time, geopolitical uncertainty can affect access to essential medicines and timely response to emergencies, particularly for Small Island Developing States.

These realities reinforce an important truth: health security is not solely a national issue. It requires coordination, trust, timely information-sharing, and sustained regional cooperation.

CARICOM has long recognized this. Through efforts at strengthened surveillance networks, enhanced laboratory collaboration, regional coordination mechanisms, and CARPHA’s leadership in implementing the regional health security framework, the Caribbean has improved its capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats that cross borders.

We are aware that CARPHA continues to play a critical role in supporting Member States through surveillance, laboratory services, workforce development, outbreak preparedness, and emergency response. Its work in advancing regional digital early warning and response systems is particularly important as we seek faster detection, better information-sharing, and stronger evidence-based decision-making.

Partnerships are equally essential. We value the continued collaboration of agencies and institutions represented here today, including the UK Health Security Agency, the Inter-American Development Bank, PAHO, CDEMA, and other regional and international partners working alongside Caribbean governments and institutions to strengthen resilience.

Looking ahead, we must continue building health systems that can respond effectively to emergencies while maintaining essential services. This requires sustained investment in preparedness, workforce capacity, laboratory strengthening, coordination mechanisms, and sustainable financing.

Above all, health security must remain people-centred. Behind every surveillance system, laboratory result, and coordination mechanism are Caribbean communities whose well-being depends on our ability to act effectively and collectively. I am encouraged by the significant efforts being undertaken by CARPHA and Member States to strengthen preparedness and build resilience across our Region.

I trust that these meetings will produce practical outcomes, stronger coordination, and clear priorities for advancing regional health security.

On behalf of the CARICOM Secretariat, I reaffirm our commitment to continued collaboration with Member States, CARPHA, and our regional and international partners in building a safer, healthier, and more resilient Caribbean Community.

I wish you productive and successful deliberations.

Thank you.

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