PAHO/WHO Donates Digital Immunization Support Devices to Ministry of Health, Trinidad and Tobago

Port-of-Spain, 30 April 2026 (PAHO): On Wednesday, 29 April 2026, PAHO/WHO marked Vaccination Week in the Americas 2026 in Trinidad and Tobago through the official handover of critical immunization support tools and the launch of a national training initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

The ceremony, held at the Sangre Grande Hospital Campus, brought together the Honourable Dr. Lackram Bodoe, Minister of Health, The Honourable Dr. Rishad Seecheran - Minister in the Ministry of Health, His Excellency Michael Ryan Callan, Canadian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Gabriel Vivas Francesconi, PAHO/WHO Representative, senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the Eastern Regional Health Authority and also frontline health workers.

(L-R seated ) Dr Jeaninie St Bernard - Chief Medical Officer (Ag.), His Excellency Michael Ryan Callan - High Commissioner for Canada to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honourable Dr. Lackram Bodoe - Minister of Health, The Honourable Dr. Rishad Seecheran - Minister in the Ministry of Health, Dr Gabriel Vivas Francesconi - PAHO/WHO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch Caribbean and Dr Sandeep Maharaj - ERHA Chairman

The event recognized the donation of immunization tools by PAHO/WHO, with support from the Government of Canada, including digital temperature monitoring devices, which will be distributed across all Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).

These small but powerful devices represent a major step forward in the management of vaccines. By moving from time consuming manual checks to continuous digital monitoring, health care providers can ensure vaccines are safely stored at all times. The remote models also support temperature monitoring and real-time alerts sent directly to mobile phones, meaning problems can be identified and addressed immediately, helping to prevent costly vaccine loss and ensuring every dose given is safe and effectively protects lives.

The handover was complemented by the launch of the national Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Training Programme which will address cold chain management and also fever and rash surveillance. It is expected to enhance the capacity of healthcare workers to maintain vaccine quality and strengthen early detection and response to priority diseases, including measles. Medical professionals from the Eastern Regional Health Authority received the first round of training.

District Health Visitors in the Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Training Programme received their copies of the Vaccination Companion

Following the ceremony, the Minister of Health, Minister in the Ministry of Health, the Canadian High Commissioner and the PAHO/WHO Representative visited the Sangre Grande Enhanced Health Centre, to view one of the solar-powered vaccine refrigerators which was also previously donated by PAHO/WHO with support from the Government of Canada. These refrigerators play a critical role in ensuring uninterrupted vaccine storage during power outages, disasters, and extreme weather events.

Eleil Briggs, District Nurse ( far right) demonstrates the solar powered vaccination fridge to (L-R) Dr Jeaninie St Bernard - Chief Medical Officer (Ag.), The Honourable Dr. Rishad Seecheran - Minister in the Ministry of Health, His Excellency Michael Ryan Callan - High Commissioner for Canada to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Honourable Dr. Lackram Bodoe - Minister of Health

PAHO/WHO reaffirmed its commitment to continue working closely with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and international partners, including the Government of Canada, to advance immunization coverage and protect communities from vaccine-preventable diseases.

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