On September 7, 2025, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) joined the Global Field Epidemiology Community in celebrating World Field Epidemiology Day under the theme, “Making our Mark: Field Epidemiology in action”. This movement, initiated by the Training Programmes in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), highlights the important work of field epidemiologists in strengthening health systems to detect and respond to emergencies, protect population health and advance regional and global health security.
In observance of World Field Epidemiology Day, Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) emphasised that field epidemiologists are our ‘boots on the ground’ heroes. “Together with other public health professionals, they provide stellar frontline service to national Ministries of Health, by strengthening disease surveillance, investigating outbreaks and responding to disasters”.
CARPHA coordinates the Caribbean Regional Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (CR-FELTP) on behalf of its Member States. This programme offers a holistic public health training package at basic and intermediate levels. Programme fellows learn different skills and gain competencies in epidemiology, disease surveillance and emergency response, as well as conduct public health research to provide data for public health policy and decision making.
Dr. Laura-Lee Boodram, Head CR-FELTP, CARPHA highlighted the significance of this programme, “Since the inception of the programme in 2014, the Region has graduated over 450 fellows across 18 CARPHA Member States who have been instrumental in containing food, vector borne and respiratory disease outbreaks. These individuals work tirelessly and provide much needed ‘boots on the ground’ support when called upon by their countries,”. Dr. Boodram added, “In 2025, we are forming a network of CR-FELTP graduates that can be deployed rapidly to assist other countries facing public health emergencies or to assist in the recovery process following the aftermath of storms and hurricanes”.
Dr. Horace Cox, Directory, Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control, CARPHA added that capacity building through workforce training is an ongoing process. “The Caribbean needs a continuous supply of skilled public health professionals to meet the various public health priorities of the region. These range from prevention and control of communicable or infectious diseases, non-communicable or chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and even health threats associated with climate change”. CARPHA hails the graduates of the CR-FELTP for their tireless efforts in securing the health of the Caribbean region.
The CR-FELTP is an affiliated member of TEPHINET. Through the support of international technical development partners and donors, such as the US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, the World Bank, the European Union, the Pandemic Fund and others. The CR-FELTP has been able to execute CARPHA’s mandate to provide public health workforce training to the region.
For more information on the CR-FELTP see link here.
For more information on World Field Epidemiology Day visit TEPHINET’s website here.
