The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is collaborating with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to build capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. CARPHA, the sole public health agency responsible for preventing disease, promoting and protecting health in the Caribbean, together with PHAC, continues to strengthen the capacity of CARPHA Member States (CMS) through the Facilitated – Acute Critical Events Simulation (F-ACES) course, delivered by the prestigious Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Ms. Janice Merhej, Manager, Public Health Agency of Canada, highlighted the partnership of PHAC-CARPHA, stating, “In the context of COVID-19, the Public Health Agency of Canada has been collaborating on various activities with CARPHA, with the aim of strengthening regional health security and promoting interagency collaboration. The Government of Canada shares the common goal with CARPHA of strengthening in-country capacity to prevent, detect and respond to current and emerging health threats.”
Additionally, Dr. Lisa Indar, Director of Surveillance Disease Prevention and Control at CARPHA, who gave the opening remarks at the first F-ACES training session, emphasized, “This timely and important training provides a unique opportunity to strengthen our capacities as we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 in the Caribbean Region.”
The F-ACES course is a tailored, four-session training course that targets Emergency Room Physicians and aims to enhance the Clinical Management of COVID-19, especially in an emergency care setting. Starting on March 25th and culminating on April 29th, 2021, a total of 24 Emergency Room Physicians from 19 CARPHA Member States will participate in this interactive training.
CARPHA has a long-standing relationship with the PHAC. Currently, CARPHA and PHAC are focussing on the following key areas of COVID-19 response: Knowledge Exchange on Public Health Communications, COVID-19 Surveillance Knowledge Exchange, Safe Travel and Tourism Discussion and Virtual Training on the Clinical Management of COVID-19.
CARPHA continues to support its Member States and their response to COVID-19 by providing technical support and guidance, as well as, facilitating capacity building and strengthening. CARPHA continues to work with CMS and both international and regional partners towards a coordinated, regional approach in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigating the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 in the region.