BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — The European Union says it will provide EURO 655,000 (One EURO=US$1.29 cents) to help Caribbean countries reduce the spread and impact of the Zika and other mosquito borne diseases in the region.

The EU said that the activities will be implemented by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) under the leadership of the Caribbean Forum for ACP States (CARIFORUM).

“The specific objective is to support CARPHA’s activities to strengthen health systems to effectively monitor, prevent and control Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases in the Caribbean region, ultimately to contribute to improving public health of the Caribbean population,” according to a statement issued by the delegation of the EU to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

It said the main activities are to promote early detection and effective monitoring of Zika, to enhance laboratory capacity for detection, to assist in the development of national registries of pregnant women exposed to Zika, and to strengthen public education and behaviour change regarding Zika and other airborne viruses.

The EU financial contribution was made available from the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) and the project will run until October 2018.

“We are pleased to provide support to improve the public health of the Caribbean people. By so doing we also work hand in hand with the Caribbean countries towards the achievement of healthy lives for all ages in the region. This is one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals we all undersigned to achieve by 2030,” said EU Ambassador Daniela Tramacere.