The Government of the United Kingdom will contribute US$ 3.8 million to the WHO Regional Office for the Americas (Pan American Health Organization, or PAHO) to help eight Caribbean small island states - Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - access critical medical equipment and other urgent supplies to respond to COVID-19.
The six-month project is intended to help save lives and reduce human-to-human transmission of the virus, including secondary infections in healthcare settings, through re-organization of health services and the implementation of Infection Prevention and Control measures. It aims to ensure early detection of COVID-19 cases by strengthening existing surveillance systems and scaling up laboratory capacity. It includes improving the communication of clear and transparent public health information about risks and protective measures.
With the funds, PAHO will support a coherent public health response that addresses the most pressing needs of the benefitting countries and ensure strong coordination and management as well as information sharing arrangements with other UN and regional/bilateral agencies to maximize impact and eliminate potential duplication.
The donation will also contribute to the UN’s Multi-Sectoral Response Plan for the Eastern Caribbean.
Read the full PAHO story about the UK support for the COVID-19 Response in the Caribbean