MINISTRY OF HEALTH &
CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT
CAPSCA/PAHO
BARBADOS EXPERIENCE
2007 - Cricket World Cup / Barbados
• The Ministry of Health established collaboration with the Civil
Aviation Department, Grantley Adams International Airport
(GAIA) Inc., the Airlines Association, the Barbados Police
Force, the Barbados Fire Service, Immigration and Customs
to control the infectious diseases entering the country by
active surveillance methods.
• International Health Regulations (IHR) guidelines were being
implemented in Barbados with support from PAHO Barbados
ECC Office.
• All stakeholders jointly developed Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPS) to control infectious diseases.
2007 cont.
• Three (3) persons were selected and sent to Canada to
experience and learn from their infectious disease
programme. This initiative was supported by the Pan
American Health Organization (PAHO).
• Developed Protocols were implemented for Cricket World
Cup 2007.
2009
• Pandemic H1N1 emerged in the Americas and PAHO
supported Barbados’ preparation and response.
2010
• Barbados delegates attended their first ICAO-CAPSCA meeting
in Texas, USA in June.
• Barbados quickly joined the programme resulting in greater
collaboration among stakeholders, particularly Ministry of
Health, Civil Aviation and Airport Authority, and strengthened
its protocols for the airport.
2010 cont.
By December 2010, Barbados received an ICAO-CAPSCA
Assistance Visit. The experts submitted recommendations
which were used to further strengthen IHR Core Capacities
at the airport.
2012
• CAPSCA selected two (2) public health experts from Barbados
to perform assistance visits to Trinidad and Tobago and the
Bahamas.
2013
• The Government of Barbados hosted the Fifth (5th)
Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and
Management of Public Health in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA)
Americas Conference in September 2013 .
• PAHO assisted many Caribbean States to attend this CAPSCA
meeting.
2014
The re-emergence of Ebola Virus Disease
caused a comprehensive review of both
PAHO/WHO and ICAO-CAPSCA protocols for
surveillance and response to communicable
diseases associated with air travel.
PAHO conducted a review of points of entry –
air and sea ports core capacities
Benefits of ICAO - CAPSCA Programme
1. ICAO – CAPSCA recommendations and guidelines were
implemented by MOH, CAD and GAIA Inc. which
strengthened Barbados’ compliance with IHR (2005);
2. Improved collaboration among all stakeholders;
3. Improved collaboration among Barbados and other
Caribbean States e.g. East Caribbean Civil Aviation
Authority (ECCAA);
4. Established new links with South American States
regarding infection control and promoted information
exchange.
Benefits cont.
5. Collaboration was strengthened with World Organization of
Animal Health (OIE) regarding the zoonotic diseases.
6. Greater awareness has been established through CAPSCA
and PAHO to educate States about deadly infectious
diseases like MERS COV.
7. Training and guidelines were developed by CAPSCA and
WHO to prevent deadliest diseases like Ebola.
8. In Barbados first line officers at points of entry and
stakeholders were sensitized and trained.
Improved
Collaboration among
Air and Seaports
Dr. R. A. MANOHAR SINGH MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH – PORTS
for TEAM BARBADOS
THANK YOU
Merci
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