Guyana now has cadre of persons with essential knowledge and practical skills on how to safely prepare and ship infectious materials, and to increase the compliance of CMS with World Health Organization International Health Regulations (WHO IHR). This was made possible by training recently facilitated by CARPHA IATA certified trainers.

According to a statement issued by CARPHA, the training programme ran from May 20 to 27, 2024, with some 16 participants from the Ministry of Health Guyana, successfully completed the Shipping of Infectious Substances and Laboratory Bio-safety Practices training programme.

The training workshop was held at Guyana’s National Public Health Laboratory and was made possible through funding from the Republic of Korea-CARICOM Cooperation Fund.  Participants engaged in an intensive curriculum that combined theoretical and practical instruction covering a range of topics including waste disposal; materials management and chemical safety; bio-safety audits and monitoring; shipping of infectious substances/practical assessment packaging; handling and emergency response.

“The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) underscores the importance of maintaining International Air Transport Association (IATA) certification and the Agency has been working since 2016 with Member States on improving national capacities for bio-safety and bio-security, which are key components for national and regional health security,” stated Dr. Joy St. John Executive Director at CARPHA. “To date, more than 300 laboratory personnel from CARPHA Member States (CMS) have been trained in how to safely prepare shipments of infectious substances.”

CARPHA, through its Medical Microbiology Laboratory has been working within the Caribbean Region to promote and support the achievement of regional health security through compliance with the WHO IHR and increased laboratory capacity to respond to public health threats and/or public health emergencies.

(Kaieteur News) …[+]