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