Dominica strengthens environmental health program with PAHO and EU/CARIFORUM support

Roseau, Dominica, 13 October 2025 (PAHO) - The Environmental Health Department in Dominica has taken an important step toward strengthening its operations and public health capacity through a comprehensive assessment conducted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), with support from the European Union/Caribbean Region (EU/CARIFORUM) project.

The three-day exercise, held from 7-9 October 2025, was led by Ms. Francina Bascombe, PAHO Environmental Health Expert, and focused on evaluating the department's governance, institutional capacity, and operational effectiveness. Special attention was given to climate change impacts, environmental determinants of health, vector control strategies, and the role of environmental health officers in managing communicable and vector-borne diseases.

The mission benefited from virtual collaboration with PAHO's regional experts, including Dr. Karen Polson, Regional Advisor on Climate Change and Health, who highlighted existing climate and health surveillance initiatives, training opportunities, and technical support available to Caribbean countries.

Over 25 participants took part in the discussions, including senior officials from the Ministry of Health, senior and district environmental health officers, and representatives from key stakeholder agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, National Pest and Termite Control, and a private vector control entity.

As part of the assessment, site visits were conducted at the Department of Fisheries, the Port Health Office at Douglas Charles International Airport, and a Food Handler's Clinic. The timing of the exercise coincided with preparations for the 25th World Creole Music Festival (24-26 October), a period of increased travel and trade into Dominica. This provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions on the department's role in supporting International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacities, including surveillance, human resources, food safety, laboratory services, and points of entry and border health.

The forthcoming assessment report will outline recommendations to strengthen governance, enhance service delivery, and improve the engagement of environmental health officers in public health emergencies and environmental health monitoring reinforcing Dominica's commitment to protecting health through resilient environmental health programs.

"This assessment demonstrates the value of having strong technical expertise both at the regional and country level to accompany and support our Member States," said Dr. Amalia Del Riego, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries. "By combining in-country knowledge with specialized regional support, we can help countries like Dominica strengthen their environmental health programs, build resilience to climate change, and better protect communities from public health threats."