Ahead of a critical two-day capacity-building workshop focused on the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for sexual and reproductive health in emergency scenarios, senior government officials from Antigua and Barbuda hosted a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative for an introductory courtesy call this week. Michael Joseph, the country’s Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, formally welcomed De-Jane Gibbons, UNFPA’s Liaison Specialist covering Barbados and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, to kick off the collaborative effort.
Organized jointly by UNFPA and Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Health, the workshop centers on two core objectives: first, conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the nation’s current ability to roll out MISP protocols when humanitarian emergencies strike, and second, co-developing a tailored national action plan to boost emergency preparedness and inter-agency coordination for these critical services. The initiative is embedded in a wider global and regional push to guarantee that life-saving sexual and reproductive health care does not face disruption amid crises, when vulnerable populations are at heightened risk of adverse health outcomes.
Two of the nation’s top public health leaders also joined the introductory meeting: Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kamaria DeCastro and Senior Medical Officer Dr. Lori-ann Johnson, highlighting the government’s high-level commitment to strengthening the country’s emergency health infrastructure.