A Region Moving Forward: Celebrating Fleming Fund Impact Across the Caribbean

Bridgetown, Barbados, 10 June 2026 (PAHO/WHO) - Over the past year, the Fleming Fund's work in the Caribbean has grown into a real success story - one powered by committed laboratory teams, determined health workers, and the kind of regional collaboration that donors love to see making a tangible difference.

Across nine countries, laboratories are now generating stronger, more reliable AMR data than ever before. Twenty-two labs have been assessed, 14 are performing Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST), and together they processed 125,000 samples last year - a milestone that directly strengthens clinical care and national surveillance. These gains were made possible through targeted support, essential supplies, and the dedication of teams who are now better equipped to detect and respond to AMR threats.

The human side of this progress is just as inspiring. More than 238 professionals have been trained through in person and virtual sessions, and the regional reference lab in Barbados has surpassed expectations with 14 staff trained in whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics. This is capacity that stays in the region and grows with it.

Digital transformation is also progressing. Fourteen laboratories are now using Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) platforms, seven countries are using WHONET, and three have already begun submitting data to Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS). These systemic shifts foster sustainable improvements that strengthen national and regional decision making.

Quality assurance has improved dramatically, with 10 laboratories now participating in Regional Laboratory Network for Antimicrobial Resistance in Latin America and the Caribbean External Quality Assessment (ReLAVRA+ EQA) and all labs implementing internal quality control. And with a new roster of specialists ready to support outbreak investigations, countries are better prepared for AMR emergencies than ever before.

Perhaps one of the most meaningful achievements is sustainability. All critical diagnostic supplies have been added to the PAHO Strategic Fund catalogue, and 17 sites have already benefited from streamlined procurement, a major step toward long-term national ownership.

Taken together, these achievements reflect a region building capacity and building confidence. It's a story of steady, meaningful progress, the kind that donors can feel proud to support, and the kind that strengthens health systems for years to come.

As the project approaches its final stages, an additional procurement reinforcement was coordinated by PAHO to further consolidate the progress achieved across participating countries. This included the purchase of cards for automated systems used for microorganism identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, a critical input with direct clinical impact and strong value for AMR surveillance. In addition, all participating countries will receive kits, which enable the rapid identification of bacteria and yeasts directly from positive blood cultures, helping laboratories generate actionable results in less time.

These efforts will strengthen laboratory diagnostic capacity in Eastern Caribbean countries by introducing advanced equipment such as mass spectrometry identification systems, that can rapidly and accurately identify bacteria and other pathogens. Compared with traditional methods, these systems can process more samples in less time and provide results much faster. Overall, these investments will help countries maintain and build on the laboratory improvements achieved through the Fleming Fund project.