PAHO Strengthens Biosafety in SVG

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) continued its support to the national laboratory system in St Vincent and the Grenadines’ national through a technical mission under the Pandemic Fund Project for Eastern Caribbean Countries. The initiative focuses on strengthening core capacities required under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), with a particular emphasis on biosafety and biosecurity, a PAHO release states.

During the period February 9 to 12, 2026, a PAHO-led team conducted comprehensive assessments of public health laboratories, evaluating biosafety and biosecurity practices, identifying priority actions, and providing guidance to enhance national readiness.

The mission also developed tailored recommendations, targeted training, and improved documentation to support the country’s progress toward meeting IHR laboratory core capacities.

The assessment team included experts from the Caribbean Society for Biosafety and Biosecurity (CSBB) and PAHO, who visited key facilities such as the Public Health Laboratory, the Molecular Laboratory Unit at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, and the Georgetown Modern Medical Facility laboratory. During a mid-assessment briefing, preliminary findings were shared with Ministry of Health officials, highlighting immediate, low-cost actions and opportunities to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity across the national laboratory network.

Permanent Secretary Nerissa Gittens, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache noted that the recommendations would support ongoing efforts to integrate quality management, waste management, and workforce evaluations, while reinforcing the ministry’s governance and stewardship roles.

PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, Dr. Amalia Del Riego, emphasized PAHO’s commitment to building sustainable, resilient laboratory systems that can detect and respond to health threats. She highlighted that this assessment is a critical step in ensuring laboratories operate at the highest standards of safety and quality.

The Pandemic Fund project for Eastern Caribbean Countries, implemented jointly by PAHO/WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Bank, takes a One Health approach to strengthen surveillance, laboratory systems, and workforce development. The project aims to reduce disease burden, prevent deaths, and minimize socioeconomic disruptions from public health emergencies through integrated action across human, animal, and environmental health.