The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency and working closely with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) Jamaica, has successfully concluded a two-week technical mission to Jamaica aimed at strengthening the country’s national response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The mission formed part of CARPHA’s ongoing support to Member States to build resilient and integrated AMR surveillance systems under the Caribbean Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA) and CARPHA’s Integrated AMR Programme.
The multidisciplinary team, comprising technical experts from CARPHA and the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), worked alongside officials from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Regional Health Authorities, the National Public Health Laboratory, hospitals, academia and other national stakeholders to assess Jamaica’s AMR programme across the human health sector.
During the mission, the team conducted extensive stakeholder consultations and site visits to laboratories and healthcare facilities to review governance arrangements, surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and control (IPC), antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), behavioural science, workforce development and health information systems. The assessment also examined opportunities to strengthen coordination and data flow across the national AMR programme.
At the conclusion of the mission, the CARPHA-led team presented its findings and recommendations to the Ministry of Health and Wellness and national stakeholders. The recommendations focused on strengthening Jamaica’s national AMR programme through improved governance and coordination, enhanced laboratory and surveillance systems, stronger antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control programmes, sustainable workforce development, and more effective use of surveillance data to guide public health action.
Speaking on behalf of CARPHA, Dr Lisa Indar, Executive Director, commended Jamaica’s commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance.
“Jamaica has demonstrated strong leadership in advancing its national antimicrobial resistance agenda and has made significant investments in strengthening laboratory and surveillance capacity. This assessment reflects the value of collaborative partnerships in identifying practical, evidence-based actions that will further strengthen national systems and contribute to improved health security across the Caribbean”.
Mr Mohamed Elsherbiny, Senior Technical Advisor at CARPHA and Mission Lead, emphasised the importance of taking a systems approach to tackling antimicrobial resistance.
“The recommendations developed during this mission focus on strengthening Jamaica’s national systems rather than individual facilities. By bringing together stakeholders from across the health sector, we have identified practical actions that will improve coordination, surveillance, laboratory services and the use of data to support informed decision-making. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Ministry as these recommendations are translated into action”.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness welcomed the collaborative assessment and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with CARPHA and national partners to implement the recommendations as part of Jamaica’s ongoing efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance. The mission was conducted through the Caribbean Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA), a partnership between CARPHA and the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), supported by funding from the UK Government through the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). It also contributes to CARPHA’s Integrated AMR Programme, funded by the Pandemic Fund, which aims to strengthen AMR surveillance, laboratory capacity and regional collaboration across the Caribbean.
As the Caribbean’s regional public health agency, CARPHA remains committed to supporting Member States in strengthening national health systems, enhancing regional surveillance and laboratory networks, and advancing coordinated action to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.