The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) have formalised their continued partnership through the signing of a 2026–2030 Framework Agreement, reinforcing their shared commitment to advancing public health priorities across the Caribbean.

The Agreement provides an operational structure aimed at supporting a unified regional vision for health. It comes at a time when Caribbean countries are confronting increasingly complex health challenges, compounded by limited resources and significant public health demands. Officials from both organisations stressed that closer coordination and collaboration are essential to ensure efficiency and measurable impact.

Covering the five-year period from 2026 to 2030, the Framework positions PAHO and CARPHA to work more strategically under the PAHO–CARICOM Joint Subregional Cooperation Strategy. The initiative is designed to support Member States in strengthening health systems, improving emergency preparedness, and advancing population health outcomes throughout the region.

The Agreement, signed during a virtual ceremony, marks the continuation of what both agencies describe as a long-standing and trusted partnership grounded in shared responsibility and mutual accountability.

Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO, said the Framework will enable the organisations to jointly develop regional strategies and implement health programmes aligned with their Strategic Plans and Programme Budgets. He noted that the Agreement also establishes a clear framework for subsidiary agreements, ensuring transparency, accountability, and results-based implementation while delivering technical cooperation responsive to country needs.

CARPHA Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Indar, underscored the importance of using limited technical cooperation resources efficiently and strategically. She said Caribbean countries expect available resources to generate the greatest possible impact for their citizens. Stronger collaboration, streamlined implementation, reduced duplication, and a lighter operational burden on Member States will be central to achieving these outcomes, she added.

PAHO has supported CARPHA across several priority areas, including the Caribbean Regulatory System, laboratory strengthening, climate resilience and environmental health, non-communicable diseases, risk communication and community engagement, and emergency preparedness and response — including foodborne disease preparedness.

Both agencies expressed confidence that the renewed Framework Agreement will deepen collaboration over the next five years and lead to tangible improvements in health outcomes for the people of the Caribbean.

Founded in 1902, PAHO is the world’s oldest international public health agency and serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.