On September 7, 2025, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) participated alongside the global community in commemorating World Field Epidemiology Day, themed “Making our Mark: Field Epidemiology in action.” According to a CARPHA press statement, this celebration, launched by the Training Programmes in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), aims to underscore the vital contributions of field epidemiologists in bolstering health systems to identify and manage emergencies, safeguard public health, and enhance health security both regionally and worldwide.
In marking this occasion, Dr. Lisa Indar, CARPHA’s Executive Director, highlighted the crucial role of field epidemiologists, describing them as our ‘boots on the ground’ heroes.
CARPHA oversees the Caribbean Regional Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (CR-FELTP) on behalf of its member nations. This comprehensive training initiative provides foundational and advanced education in public health, equipping participants with skills in epidemiology, disease surveillance, emergency response, and public health research—supporting data-driven policymaking and decision-making.
Dr. Laura-Lee Boodram, Director of CR-FELTP, emphasized the programme’s importance: “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,” she explained.
She also noted, “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, Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention, and Control at CARPHA, added that workforce development is an ongoing endeavor.
“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,” he remarked.
CARPHA added that CR-FELTP is an affiliated member of TEPHINET. Through support from international partners and donors—including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Bank, the European Union, and the Pandemic Fund—the programme continues to fulfill CARPHA’s mission of strengthening the region’s public health workforce.
For additional details on the CR-FELTP, please follow this link.
To learn more about World Field Epidemiology Day, visit TEPHINET’s official website here.
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