CARPHA has moved to strengthen the Caribbean’s capacity for the safe and compliant transport of infectious substances and diagnostic specimens.
It recently conducted a regional International Air Transport Association Infectious Substances Transport Train-the-Trainer Workshop.
From May 25th to 29th, 18 participants from 15 CARPHA Member States, created a new cadre of certified regional trainers to support biosafety, biosecurity, laboratory strengthening, and pandemic preparedness efforts across the Caribbean.
Participants received training in the classification, packaging, marking, labelling, documentation, and handling requirements for infectious substances, in accordance with current IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and international safety standards.
The objectives of the workshop included:
- Strengthening regional compliance with international transport regulations and biosafety standards.
- Developing a sustainable network of certified national trainers across CARPHA Member States.
- Enhancing laboratory preparedness and outbreak response through improved specimen transport systems.
- Supporting implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and regional pandemic preparedness efforts.
- Promoting harmonised shipping practices and collaboration among Member States.
- Improving workforce capacity in biosafety, biosecurity, and laboratory operations.
The workshop was conducted in collaboration with IATA and supported through CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund Project, and forms part of CARPHA’s broader commitment to enhancing regional pandemic preparedness, laboratory systems, and workforce development.
Member states participating included Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos.
CARPHA Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Indar, said the training represents an important investment.
“The safe transport of infectious substances is often an unseen but essential part of protecting public health. When specimens move safely and correctly across our countries and to regional reference laboratories, it strengthens confidence in our systems and supports faster detection, better decision-making, and more coordinated response. Through this initiative, CARPHA is helping to build a regional network of trainers who can take this expertise back home and multiply its impact across the Caribbean,” said Dr. Indar
