CARPHA mission sets out steps to strengthen Jamaica’s fight against antimicrobial resistance
The two-week assessment with the UK Health Security Agency focused on surveillance, laboratories and workforce, and was praised by CARPHA’s Dr Lisa Indar.
KINGSTON, Jamaica. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), working with the UK Health Security Agency and Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, has completed a two-week mission to strengthen Jamaica’s response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The team assessed surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, workforce development and health information systems.
Its recommendations focused on improving co-ordination, strengthening surveillance and laboratory systems, developing the workforce and using AMR data more effectively.
Praise for Jamaica
“Jamaica has demonstrated strong leadership in advancing its national antimicrobial resistance agenda and has made significant investments in strengthening laboratory and surveillance capacity,” said Dr Lisa Indar, CARPHA executive director.
She said the assessment would “contribute to improved health security across the Caribbean”.
A systems approach
Mohamed Elsherbiny, senior technical adviser at CARPHA and mission lead, said: “The recommendations developed during this mission focus on strengthening Jamaica’s national systems rather than individual facilities.”
He said stakeholders across the health sector had identified practical actions to improve co-ordination, surveillance, laboratory services and the use of data.
Jamaica’s Ministry of Health welcomed the assessment and pledged to work with CARPHA and national partners to implement the recommendations.
The mission was carried out through CARA, a CARPHA and UKHSA partnership funded by the UK government, which supports wider efforts to strengthen AMR surveillance and regional co-operation.
