Ministry of Health to Host Regional Meeting on Arboviral Disease Preparedness

The Ministry of Health is set to host a critical regional meeting aimed at strengthening the Caribbean’s approach to combatting mosquito-borne diseases. Organised in collaboration with the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), the Caribbean Vector Borne Disease Network (CariVecNet), and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), this event, titled “Networking for Improved Responsiveness,” will run from 19 to 21 November 2024, in Grand Cayman.

The urgency of this meeting follows record-high Dengue cases reported in the Americas and the Caribbean in 2023, which have already been surpassed in 2024.

Honourable Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Premier and Minister for Health expressed her strong support for the initiative. “Our region faces an escalating threat from mosquito-borne diseases, and it is clear that we must act together to strengthen our defences. This meeting underscores our commitment to building a unified response, knowledge sharing, and deploying resources strategically to protect health and wellbeing across the Caribbean.”

This meeting aims to leverage the framework of the World Health Organisation’s Global Arbovirus Initiative, launched in 2022, which targets epidemic and pandemic potential arboviruses through six strategic pillars: 1) Monitoring risk, 2) Reducing local epidemic risk, 3) Strengthening vector control, 4) Preventing and preparing for pandemics, 5) Enhancing innovation, and 6) Building a coalition of partners.

Participants from across the Caribbean region will engage in discussions and workshops designed to foster collaboration and integration of strategies across arboviruses and sectors, maximising resources and impact in the fight against vector-borne diseases. The meeting will address multiple arboviral diseases, with a focus on achieving long-term solutions in areas with the highest disease burden and in areas at high risk for future outbreaks.

The event also presents an invaluable opportunity for the Cayman Islands to showcase the work of the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) and local public health efforts in combating vector-borne diseases.

“We are honoured to welcome experts from across the region to discuss the pressing challenges posed by mosquito-borne diseases,” said Dr. Alan Wheeler, Director of the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU). “This meeting serves as a vital platform for fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative, data-driven strategies that strengthen our collective response. Vector-borne diseases do not recognise borders, making it critical for regional partners to unite in addressing both immediate and long-term threats. By coming together, we can leverage our combined expertise, deploy targeted interventions, and enhance public health resillience throughout the Caribbean. The work we undertake here will not only bolster our defenses but also serve as a foundation for continued progress in protecting our communities from these dangerous diseases.”