St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, 28 January 2026 (PAHO) - On 26-27 January 2026, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, hosted a training workshop aimed at improving disease monitoring in Antigua and Barbuda through the use digital tools. The training was delivered as part of the Pandemic Fund project for Eastern Caribbean Countries.
The two-day workshop focused on the use of DHIS2, a digital platform used globally for monitoring infectious and non‑communicable diseases, and other health information. The implementation of DHIS2 will allow the Ministry to access, analyse and visualise health data in real time, which is critical for tracking disease trends and identifying potential outbreaks quickly. This will support more informed decision making across all levels of the health system.
Approximately 50 participants attended the training, representing a wide cross-section of the national health workforce, including registered nurses, public health nurses, district nurse midwives, community health aides, statisticians, information technology (IT) personnel and epidemiologists.
The workshops covered surveillance for both infectious diseases and the HEARTS initiative, PAHO’s program aimed at improving hypertension control throughout the Americas. During the training, attendees built practical skills in digital data entry and interpretation through hands-on exercises and interactive discussions. The training demonstrated strong enthusiasm among participants, along with room to further build digital literacy and confidence.
As DHIS2 continues to be rolled out, additional areas of public health data will be incorporated into the platform. By giving frontline workers the tools and confidence to capture accurate health information, the Ministry is enhancing its ability to monitor population health, quickly respond to new threats, and plan services more effectively. PAHO, through the Pandemic Fund project, will continue to offer support to Antigua and Barbuda and the wider OECS in developing a more comprehensive, timely and resilient digital health system.
