Avian and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Program
March 2008 - February 2009

Public health authorities worldwide recognize the risk of an influenza pandemic. In the Caribbean, PAHO with the collaboration of USAID is working to help the Caribbean countries cope with a pandemic, or international public health emergency.

The overall objective of the program for Avian and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness in the Caribbean is to reduce morbidity and mortality and mitigate the economic and social disruption of a pandemic or an international health emergency in the Caribbean countries. This includes all the English speaking Caribbean, Netherland Antilles, Dominican Republic and Haiti.

The Strategic and Operational plan to prepare for an Influenza Pandemic for 2008-2009 focuses around nine outcomes:

  1. Promote the improvement, continual update and local level implementation of national influenza pandemic preparedness plans;
  2. Strengthen countries’ capacity to detect and respond to any human influenza viruses caused by a new sub-type;
  3. Support regional production capacity of developing pharmaceuticals and vaccines;
  4. Plan for health-care services and infection control;
  5. Reduce opportunities for human infection;
  6. Implement a communication strategy and raise awareness to encourage pandemic planning;
  7. Develop  and adapt recommendations to guide policy making regarding pandemic control;
  8. Build partnerships and strategic alliances in support of an effective PAHO/WHO response to pandemic influenza in compliance with the UN influenza pandemic preparedness plan;
  9. Mobilize and educate local governments and community organizations on best practices to prepare for an influenza pandemic.

Key milestones to be attained are:

Year 1

i) To integrate Pandemic Preparedness plans into National disaster plans, as evidenced by SOPs and reports of drills to national preparedness and response in at least 2 countries.
ii) Train and equip local rapid health emergency teams in at least ten countries.
iii) Assess systems for coping with health emergencies, with regards to their capacity to a national health emergency or event, using standard PAHO instrument and methodology in at least four countries.

Year 2
  1. At least four Countries prepare and test operational plans as required. 
  2. Annual simulations or drills to test systems conducted in at least ten countries.
  3. Ensure the public is aware of at least two strategies that would prevent transmission of influenza and two strategies to manage influenza at community level in at least 4 countries.
  4. Enable national multisectoral mechanisms to implement the enforcement of Non-Pharmaceutical Public Health Interventions for containment in at least 10 countries.

To read more about the program for the Americas click here.