“Health security is national security. It’s economic and human security.”
This is according to Minister of Health, Dr. Lackram Bodoe, who emphasised that the future of health security lies not just in a nation’s ability to respond to crises but to prevent and detect disease outbreaks before they become national emergencies.
Speaking at the Second Joint Regional Health Security and Regional Coordinating Mechanism Meeting hosted at the Hyatt Regency on Tuesday, the Minister pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which crippled tourism, disrupted supply chains, and overwhelmed health systems, as proof that national health surveillance and preparedness remain top priorities in the region.
He noted, however, that preparedness and response cannot be achieved in isolation and that the health security of one Caribbean nation is intrinsically linked to the health security of all Caribbean nations.
“The next pandemic will not ask whether we are ready. The next pandemic will simply arrive. So no country, not the wealthiest, not the most technologically advanced, not the most scientifically sophisticated. The lesson is very clear: preparedness is not a destination that we arrive at. It is a continuous process of investment, vigilance, collaboration, and adaptation.”
Meanwhile, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr. Lisa Indar, highlighted that CARPHA and its partners have driven major advances in regional health security since 2025.
She said together, they have supported Member States during outbreaks, expanded strategic partnerships and surveillance capacities, and developed Caribbean-tailored innovations in early warning systems.
“These efforts have been now translated into tangible action through the support of the Pandemic Fund, the European Union, the World Bank, the Fleming Fund, PAHO, CDC, and other valued partners.”
Dr. Indar noted that CARPHA has since expanded its partnerships for emergency response and pandemic prevention while pioneering innovations such as timeliness metrics and the Caribbean-adapted 717 tool, designed to sharpen response in small island states.