25th November 2016

CaribVET has been mandated by its Steering Committee since the 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti to initiate veterinary disaster risk reduction and management programmes and activities. This mandate led to the establishment of a Disaster Response Sub-committee of the CaribVET Epidemiology Working Group and a Whatsapp Emergency group, a tool used to communicate with members affected by disasters. Additionally, through CaribVET’s Cuban members, its interests are voiced at the meetings of the OIE Ad Hoc Group in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Establishment of linkages with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) at a high-level were possible thanks to the workshop held in Miami.The Caribbean region, led by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in close collaboration with the Pan-American/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), is creating a five-year GHSA Roadmap to develop the capacities necessary to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats and emergencies. The GHSA Caribbean Roadmap Workshop brought together a selection of country representatives, regional and national stakeholders and development partners to build multi-sectoral capacity to implement the International Health Regulations (IHR) and develop a draft Caribbean Regional Five-Year GHSA Roadmap.

CaribVET establishes high-level ties with CDEMA

The Roadmap includes 11 action packages with each action package having a 5-year target, indicators by which to measure progress and lists of baseline assessment, planning and evaluation activities to support successful implementation. The GHSA Caribbean process is jointly led by the CARICOM Health Desk and CARPHA.

The U.S. Government is supporting the process through the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). CaribVET was represented at the Workshop by Dr Victor Gongora, chair of the Epidemiology Working Group and Dr Kathian Hackshaw, Chair of CaribVET Steering Committee. Nevertheless, CaribVET also had some key members present at the Workshop: the Chief Veterinary Officer from Jamaica, Dr Osbil Watson; and the Executive Director of Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), Mr Simeon Collins.

CDEMA was represented at the Workshop by its Executive Director, Mr Ronald Jackson. Dr Hackshaw saw this Workshop as the ideal opportunity for CaribVET to establish contact with CDEMA and requested a side meeting with Mr Ronald Jackson, inviting Dr Victor Gongora to participate. The outcome of the side meeting was a strong commitment from CDEMA’s Executive Director to liaise with CaribVET and to attend the next meeting of the Steering Committee. The Workshop created other unique opportunities for CaribVET to establish itself as a strong voice for the veterinary sector and to create linkages with other regional institutions such as CARPHA, the CARICOM Health Desk, CARICOM Regional Organisation of Standards and Quality (CROSQ) among others.

As CaribVET’s interests in disaster risk reduction and management are incorporated in the GHSA Caribbean Roadmap and CaribVET is recognized as a strong voice for the veterinary sector in the development of the GHSA Roadmap, CaribVET will align itself to the GHSA Caribbean Roadmap activities.