PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Monday announced the appointment of Dr Lisa Indar as its executive director, replacing Barbadian Dr Joy St John’s who had been in the position since 2019.

Indar’s appointment became effective February 1.

She previously held the position of ad interim executive director of CARPHA, from July 2024, having served in her post of director of surveillance, disease prevention and control since 2019, as well as the head of the regional tourism and health programme since 2014.

“While communicable and non-communicable diseases and related public health threats continue to rise globally and regionally, I am proud to lead a team of dedicated professionals under our ‘Integrated, One Health Agency’ to implement Caribbean-tailored interventions aligning to the uniqueness of our Caribbean region and delivering excellence in public health,” Indar said of her vision for the agency, while unveiling the new strategic plan 2025-2030.

“Our greatest strengths are regional solidarity among our 26 member states, our resilient, committed people and CARPHA’s integrated surveillance approach which combines human health to causation, including environmental and animal sources to combat a myriad of public health threats.”

She said looking ahead at the next five years, “we have ensured that CARPHA’s six priority areas are aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

CARPHA is the sole, integrated, regional public health agency in the Caribbean, responsible for preventing disease, promoting and protecting health in the Caribbean through leadership, innovation and partnerships.