Regional
Caribbean Leaders Rally for Immunisation Progress at 38th EPI Managers’ Meeting
Caribbean health officials gathered for the 38th Caribbean Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Managers’ Meeting, held from 28-30 October, where renewed urgency for immunisation efforts and HPV vaccine promotion took centre stage. The regional meeting, hosted in St. Kitts and Nevis, spotlighted progress and ongoing challenges in the effort to raise vaccination coverage across CARICOM Member States following setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her address, Dr Rhonda Sealy, Assistant Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), commended Caribbean health leaders for reversing the decline in vaccination rates but emphasised the need for continued momentum, particularly around HPV vaccinations. With the Caribbean grappling with vaccine hesitancy and disruptions to healthcare access, Dr Sealy highlighted the importance of the HPV programme within the broader Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, as countries move towards a one-dose schedule in line with recommendations.
Dr Sealy outlined a strategic roadmap to sustain immunisation successes, calling for strengthened political and financial commitment. “Maintaining our targets for eliminating polio, measles, and rubella requires us to achieve and sustain a 95% coverage rate,” she urged. She advocated targeted strategies to improve vaccine accessibility for children under five and reiterated the importance of training healthcare workers to address vaccine hesitancy effectively.
Dr Daniel Salas, Executive Manager of PAHO’s Special Programme on Comprehensive Immunisation, echoed Dr Sealy’s commitment to strengthening HPV vaccination in the region. “The Caribbean is known as a leader in disease elimination,” he declared. “I urge you to be the first subregion to eliminate cervical cancer and reduce the toll of preventable disease.”
The meeting also celebrated regional achievements, with Jamaica receiving the esteemed Harry Smith Award for the most improved immunisation coverage in 2023. Grenada was honoured with the inaugural Beryl Irons Award for its excellence in surveillance and immunisation achievements. Additional surveillance awards went to Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Belize, acknowledging their strides in immunisation monitoring and public health commitment.
Curtis Martin, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health in St. Kitts and Nevis, praised PAHO’s vital support, noting, “PAHO’s technical expertise in EPI is a global best practice. The transfer of skills and knowledge has had a measurable impact on our region’s health systems.” He emphasised that “health is too big to fail,” underscoring the need for PAHO’s ongoing involvement in the Caribbean’s public health endeavours.
Dr Solange Kobi-Jackson, speaking on behalf of PAHO/WHO Representative Dr Amalia Del Riego, acknowledged the progress made in 2023, crediting committed healthcare professionals, government investment, and public trust in vaccination. However, she cautioned that maintaining immunisation gains and reestablishing the Americas at the top of the global immunisation rankings remains critical.
The meeting concluded with a workshop focused on risk communication strategies for boosting vaccine uptake, where Caribbean EPI managers shared innovative approaches to address public concerns and overcome vaccine hesitancy. Presentations from health officials from Turks & Caicos, Grenada, and Suriname offered insight into managing measles outbreaks, preparing for new vaccine rollouts, and responding to adverse events.
Chaired by Professor Peter Figueroa, Chair of the Caribbean Immunisation Technical Working Group, the meeting left participants with a sense of urgency and collective resolve. “Vaccination has averted an estimated 154 million deaths globally, and we must remain vigilant to uphold this legacy,” Professor Figueroa urged, calling on Caribbean nations to reach and maintain 95% vaccination coverage.
Under the theme “Stronger Together: Advancing Immunisation, Eliminating Disease,” the 2024 EPI Managers’ Meeting underscored a regional commitment to collaborative health efforts, aiming to build a healthier, disease-free Caribbean.
Two civilian vessels, including one flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, were struck by what Ukrainian officials described as Russian military-style drones in the Black Sea, killing one crew member and injuring others, Ukrainian authorities and maritime sources said.
The strikes occurred near Ukraine’s Odesa region as the ships traveled in designated maritime corridors for commercial traffic, according to Ukraine’s Operational Command South. One of the vessels was heading to the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk to load grain for export when it was hit.
A Syrian national aboard the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged vessel died as a result of the attack, and several crew members sustained injuries, Ukrainian officials reported. Details about the second vessel, including its flag and exact route, were not immediately disclosed.
The incident marks one of several reported attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea since the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Maritime authorities and industry groups have raised concerns about the safety of commercial vessels operating in or near conflict zones.
Ukrainian officials reaffirmed calls for strengthened international protections for civilian maritime traffic. The International Maritime Organization and other global shipping bodies have previously issued advisories urging heightened caution for vessels transiting the Black Sea.
Russia’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It has, in past incidents, generally denied responsibility for attacks that have affected commercial shipping or attributed such events to other causes.
The attack occurs against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities between Russian and Ukrainian forces, as both sides contend with strategic control of key coastal and maritime areas. The incident may prompt further discussions within the shipping industry and among foreign ministries regarding insurance and risk mitigation for vessels operating in the region.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that Hurricane Melissa caused damage equivalent to 28 %-32 % of the nation’s 2024 gross domestic product, with short-term output projected to fall between 8 %-13 %, sending ripples across the Caribbean region.
Jamaica experienced catastrophic damage when Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 storm on Oct. 28, 2025. The storm’s impact on homes, infrastructure and crops left an estimated 5 million tonnes of debris in western Jamaica, according to the United Nations Development Programme, and triggered fears of food-supply shortages.
For the British Virgin Islands and other smaller Caribbean jurisdictions, the scale of Jamaica’s losses underscores vulnerabilities shared across the region—particularly how extreme weather events, tourism declines and infrastructure damage can compound economic risks.
Tourism, trade and investment flows in the Caribbean are deeply interconnected. The Jamaica crisis may lead to reduced regional airline traffic, delayed cruise calls, and upward pressure on insurance and reconstruction costs—factors that could influence the BVI’s economy directly.
Holness emphasised that Jamaica will temporarily suspend its fiscal rules, seek regional and international financial support, and rebuild with greater resilience: “Every repaired bridge, re-roofed home and rebuilt road must be designed for the storms of tomorrow, not the storms of yesterday.”
Experts warn that as warming ocean temperatures drive more intense hurricanes, islands like the BVI must sharpen preparedness—covering early warning systems, climate-proofing infrastructure and regional cooperation on relief funds and insurance frameworks.
The lesson for the BVI: the ripple effects from Jamaica illustrate that regional shocks cannot be viewed in isolation. If disaster strikes one island, the tourism supply chain, aviation connectivity and shared insurance markets make all Caribbean states vulnerable.
Local News
BVI-Based “Pioneering Greatness” Reschedules 2025 Conference to Support Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa
Photo: Aerial
The British Virgin Islands–based organization Pioneering Greatness has announced the rescheduling of its annual Success Conference, originally slated for November 1, following the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa across Jamaica.
The decision comes as the island continues to recover from widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and prolonged power outages caused by the Category 5 storm earlier this week. According to Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), several parishes remain without full access to clean water and electricity, and road clearance operations are still underway. Thankfully, no major loss of life has been reported, though hundreds have been displaced from low-lying areas.
This year’s Pioneering Greatness Success Conference was set to mark a milestone for the BVI-based movement, as it would have been the first time the event was held outside the Virgin Islands. Founder David D. Archer Jr., who also serves as Deputy Governor of the Virgin Islands, said the organization’s immediate priority is now to assist Jamaica’s recovery efforts.
“Due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa and our concern for the people of Jamaica, we will reschedule and repurpose our success and motivational conference to a stronger effort to support Jamaica during this period,” Archer explained. “We will not host an event while the community is facing this challenge.”
Archer added that he plans to travel to Jamaica in partnership with Aerial Recovery, a disaster-response organization, to help coordinate and participate in hands-on recovery efforts.
“Our Pioneering Greatness team will serve to provide hands and hope during this period,” he continued. “When our Jamaican family is standing strong again, we will rise together for Pioneering Greatness 2025/2026: A Conference of Hope, Support, and Inspiration — a benefit for Jamaica and its people.”
The team expressed heartfelt concern for Jamaicans affected by the storm and gratitude for the emergency responders and volunteers working across the island.
“We trust that everyone is safe following the hurricane,” Archer said. “Our focus now is on standing with Jamaica in action, compassion, and rebuilding.”
Pioneering Greatness, founded by David D. Archer Jr., is a global movement dedicated to empowering individuals, businesses, governments, and nations through leadership, education, and motivational experiences. Now in its seventh year, the organization has inspired people across the Caribbean and beyond to live with courage and purpose.
To learn more or to support Jamaica’s relief efforts, visit www.pioneeringgreatness.com, WhatsApp/Text +1 (284) 542-4348, or email pioneeringgreatness@gmail.com.
Follow @pioneeringgreatness on Instagram and Facebook.
#PioneeringGreatness #PGforJamaica #TogetherWeRise #CaribbeanStrong #JamaicaRelief #LiveUnafraid #HopeInAction
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