PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has expressed the need for Caricom countries to improve their ability to prevent, control and respond to communicable diseases, like COVID- 19.

This follows their second donation of medical supplies to Trinidad and Tobago, last Thursday.

In a release on Wednesday, CARPHA said they will continue to play their part by partnering with regional and international bodies to secure supplies and equipment for member states.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Health Minister, Terrence Deyalsingh, was present to accept the donation—which was acquired through funding provided by the European Union—of ventilators, cardiac monitors and infusion pumps.

Deyalsingh said he was “pleased to receive these pieces of life-saving medical equipment, which will be immediately distributed to the Regional Health Authorities across Trinidad and Tobago to be used in their ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.”

The previous donation included isolation gowns, N95 respirators and Viral RNA Test Kits.

Meanwhile, Joy St John, the executive director of CARPHA said it was “an honour for CARPHA to be able to strengthen the capacity of our member states in this way” and added that the agency will continue to safeguard the health of Caricom citizens.

CARPHA, a subsidiary of Caricom, is the official public health agency for the Caribbean. It was established in 2011, but began operations in 2013 and is headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago.