The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is at the forefront of the global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025. AMR, often referred to as the ‘silent pandemic,’ poses a significant threat to public health, healthcare systems, and sustainable development worldwide. This phenomenon occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the drugs designed to eliminate them, rendering infections increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. CARPHA’s participation in WAAW 2025, themed ‘Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,’ underscores its commitment to promoting responsible antimicrobial use and advancing its Integrated AMR Programme. This initiative, supported by key partners including the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Fleming Fund, and the Pandemic Fund Project, employs a multi-sectoral approach to enhance regional AMR surveillance, laboratory infrastructure, and coordinated responses. A cornerstone of CARPHA’s efforts is the Caribbean Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA), which serves as the technical and operational hub for AMR initiatives. CARA is establishing AMR reference laboratories in Trinidad, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia and developing a regional AMR surveillance system to improve data collection, reporting, and analysis. Additionally, CARPHA has prioritized expanding laboratory capacities in Jamaica and Saint Lucia, complementing its existing CARPHA Medical Microbiology Laboratory in Trinidad. These advancements enable faster pathogen detection, reduce diagnostic delays, and improve access to high-quality AMR testing. CARPHA has also focused on workforce development, hosting technical experts and organizing training workshops on phenotypic testing, molecular diagnostics, Whole Genome Sequencing, and AMR surveillance. With substantial funding from the Pandemic Fund and the Fleming Fund, CARPHA is enhancing laboratory upgrades, workforce training, and surveillance integration across the region. Dr. Lisa Indar, CARPHA’s Executive Director, emphasizes the urgency of collective action: ‘Antimicrobial resistance threatens the health and development of every Caribbean nation. Success requires the involvement of governments, healthcare providers, veterinarians, farmers, laboratories, and the public.’ CARPHA continues to expand its surveillance, testing capabilities, and One Health partnerships, urging all stakeholders to champion responsible antimicrobial use and support AMR prevention initiatives.
CARPHA celebrates global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) awareness week: Highlighting regional progress in combatting AMR
