A Saint Lucia Delegation recently actively engaged in a transformative Health Emergencies Strategic and Operational Planning Workshop in Antigua, organized by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
This multidisciplinary team from Saint Lucia acquired essential knowledge during this vital regional workshop focused on health emergency preparedness and response.
The workshop, titled “Health Emergencies Strategic and Operational Planning (HESOP) Workshop,” took place in St. John’s, Antigua, from August 25 to 29. It brought together health and emergency management professionals from five CARPHA Member States: Antigua, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Under the theme, “Strengthening Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery through Strategic and Operational Planning in the Caribbean Context,” the workshop addressed critical issues relevant to health emergencies.
The Saint Lucian delegation included key personnel directly involved in national emergency preparedness and response activities, comprising:
– Dr. Delphina Vernor – Senior Medical Officer for Urgent Care and Health Disaster Management
– Dr. Dana DaCosta-Gomez – Medical Surveillance Officer
– Emerson Vitalis – Senior Environmental Health Officer – Princess Khodra – Deputy Director of the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO)
The HESOP workshop was strategically designed to enhance the region’s capacity for effective response to public health emergencies, focusing on strategic planning, inter-agency coordination, and operational readiness.
Key workshop components included plan development processes, threat and hazard analysis, and a thorough examination of the tiers and scope of planning—strategic, operational, and tactical.
Significantly, the workshop emphasized stakeholder analysis, the promotion of cross-sectoral collaboration, and the need for strengthened cross-border and regional planning among multi-sectoral stakeholders.
As Small Island States encounter escalating threats from climate change, emerging issues, and natural hazards, this training opportunity was both timely and necessary.
Saint Lucia’s involvement clearly demonstrates its commitment to proactive health emergency planning and regional collaboration for building resilient health systems.
The diverse composition of the team exemplifies a whole-of-government approach to emergency management, fully aligning with national and regional objectives for integrated disaster risk reduction and public health preparedness.
Participants left the workshop equipped with valuable insights and practical tools to enhance existing national plans and coordination mechanisms for health emergencies.
CARPHA continues to assert its leadership by supporting Member States through technical assistance, capacity building, and coordination amid emerging public health threats.
Moreover, CARPHA remains dedicated to ensuring Member States establish robust foundations for effective emergency preparedness and response systems. The HESOP workshop was made possible through support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under CDC DGHP Funds and CDC GHS support for HESOP development.