Kingston, Jamaica. Monday, March 24, 2025: Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, CD has been appointed to the Executive Board of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Dr. Bisasor McKenzie will represent Jamaica for the next two years.
The Board of this regional body has a duty to approve its strategic plan; undertake and cooperate in open and prompt exchange of relevant information related to public health among members and associate members of CARPHA; review and approve recommendations from the Technical Advisory Committee and promote and cooperate in education, training and public awareness related to public health, while encouraging wide participation, including from non-governmental organizations.
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is the sole regional public health agency for the Caribbean. It was legally established in July 2011 by an Inter-Governmental Agreement signed by Caribbean Community Member States and began operation in January 2013. The Agency rationalises public health arrangements in the Region by combining the functions of five Caribbean Regional Health Institutes (RHIs) into a single agency.
CARPHA provides the regional response on several public health matters including emergency responses to disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding); the surveillance and management of non-communicable diseases (NDCs) that have reached epidemic proportions such as obesity, cancer, heart disease and diabetes; and the surveillance and management of communicable diseases (CDs), including HIV / AIDS; re-emerging diseases, like tuberculosis in association with HIV/AIDS; and new communicable diseases that are now endemic in the region. The agency is also responsible for responding to matters related surveillance and prevention of injuries, violence and job-related illnesses and contribution to global health agreements and compliance with international health regulations.
The Board composite includes Caribbean Ministers of Health, Permanent Secretaries, Chief Medical Officers and representatives from WHO/PAHO and CARICOM.