The Caribbean Public Health Agency (Carpha) has signed an agreement with management and communication consultants, Kay Osborne Associates Limited (KOA), to craft the agency's regional, strategic brand marketing, communication and action plan.
The strategy will be designed to inform and educate key stakeholders on Carpha's formation, its vision, mission, priorities, strategies and accomplishments. It will facilitate building functional, long term partnerships among key public health stakeholders including public and private sector interests, international development and academic partners, and the public.
The initiative will serve to brand Carpha as the Caribbean's credible source for public health information, knowledge and programmes, and as the sole regional public health agency that delivers substantial regional public health benefits.
The strategy will position Carphan agency with an evidence-based, value investment proposition.Commenting on the agreement, Carpha's executive director Dr C James Hospedales said: "The communication strategy and action plan will support Carpha's overarching mission to prevent disease, promote and protect health and respond to public health threats and emergencies throughout the Caribbean.
"To deliver on our mandate, Carpha intends to widely inform on how the public and other stakeholders, such as tourism, transportation, communications sectors, benefit from what we do, and to encourage and support healthy living and partnerships with Carpha member states that determine our priorities which include monitoring and responding to epidemics, such as the new Chikungunya virus, addressing growing obesity among children, non-communicable disease epidemics, tourism and health, violence and injury prevention, and bio-terrorism.
"Our approach is regional, and our focus is on helping our Caribbean peoples and visitors live longer, healthier, more productive lives. Investments in Carpha support the delivery of economic and human development goals throughout the Caribbean".
KOA president and CEO Kay Osborne said: "We are delighted to have been selected to develop this important regional strategy for 24 Carpha member and associate member countries. We're grateful for this opportunity to support Carpha in clarifying and publicizing its strategies and approaches and in securing and strengthening partnerships to further address public health challenges that affect the entire region."
Caricom Heads of Government signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement in 2011 to create Carpha as the sole regional public health agency. Launched in July, 2013, it comprises five previous regional institutions with epidemiology and laboratory, environment, drug testing, health research and food and nutrition mandates. The single agency approach is intended to improve synergy and the efficiency and effectiveness of the region's public health resource management.
Headquartered in Port of Spain, and with campuses in Jamaica and St. Lucia, the agency serves 24 member countries including the Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, T&T, Suriname, Guyana, Belize, Eastern Caribbean islands as well as the UK and Dutch dependent territories.Carpga supports solidarity in health as one of the principal pillars of functional co-operation in the Caribbean Community.