Stories from the field

Documenting innovation in action in Trinidad and Tobago

When new health technologies are introduced, their true value is measured not only in terms of equipment installed or systems launched but in the experiences of the people who use them every day. Through collaboration between PAHO and the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, supported by the Government of Canada, the Government of India, and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, these innovations are being monitored to ensure they are delivering results for health workers and the communities they serve.

At the Couva Health Centre in central Trinidad, supporting mothers and newborns is central to Sasha Doolarchan’s work. A district health visitor with more than a decade of experience, she provides antenatal support and monitors maternal and child health in her community. As part of a PAHO initiative to document and monitor the impact of health innovations introduced in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Sasha reflected on how the Perinatal Information System (SIP Plus) had improved her daily practice.

Before digitalization, reviewing a patient’s pregnancy history meant searching through paper records, often under time pressure. Identifying high-risk cases required manually piecing together information from multiple visits. Today, SIP Plus allows health workers to see critical information instantly, improving planning and referral. Sasha explains that the system supports “a better outcome for mommy and baby … you’re able now to plan … this patient has had five pregnancies, so we need to send her to a specialist clinic, or this patient has a history of high blood pressure in pregnancy. At a glance you see all of that.”

With clearer visibility of medical histories, health workers can identify risks earlier and ensure timely specialist care. For families, this means safer pregnancies and improved outcomes for newborns. The monitoring initiative also captured how other innovations are enhancing service delivery across Trinidad and Tobago’s health facilities. District health visitor Karen Alleyne reflected on the impact of solar-powered vaccine refrigerators at the primary care level: “When there’s a power interruption, vaccines are at risk. Before, we had to constantly monitor and sometimes move stock quickly to prevent loss. Now, the solar refrigerators give us peace of mind. We know the vaccines are kept at the correct temperature, even if electricity is disrupted.” This reduces stress for staff and safeguards immunization services for children and families.

At the Scarborough General Hospital in Tobago, Anderson McPhee, Manager, Environmental Services, shared how the introduction of a disinfecting health service robot is supporting infection prevention efforts. “It adds another layer of protection for both staff and patients,” he noted. “In areas where exposure risk is higher, having that additional support strengthens our infection control measures.” By capturing these lived experiences, the initiative shows how innovation is felt in clinics, wards, and communities. Monitoring helps ensure these investments translate into stronger systems, safer care, and better outcomes for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

Turning knowledge into action: Empowering providers to end Hansen’s disease in Trinidad and Tobago through the Elimination Initiative

The Ministry of Health, the Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association, and PAHO have successfully completed the national Hansen’s Disease Continuing Medical Education capacity-building, an impact-driven initiative that measurably boosted frontline capacity to detect, treat, and prevent complications from Hansen’s disease across Trinidad and Tobago, directly advancing the Elimination Initiative.

The series focused on building practical clinical readiness to ensure early diagnosis, timely treatment, and reduced disability, which are key pillars of disease elimination. Delivered across all five regions, the program reached 118 public- and private-sector healthcare practitioners between April and July 2025. Sessions emphasized real-world application through small group learning, local case studies, and live digital engagement to reinforce clinical decision-making. Led technically by the Director of the Hansen’s Disease Control Unit, the program achieved demonstrable gains in provider competence, with postlecture assessments averaging 92%, confirming significant improvements in clinical knowledge and readiness to act.

At the closing ceremony, the Hon. Dr. Rishad Seecheran, Minister in the Ministry of Health, noted that “our collaboration with PAHO has been longstanding and impactful, enhancing our ability to respond effectively across all levels of care, from primary health care clinics to national public health strategies.” The Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association reaffirmed its commitment to initiatives that elevate clinical standards nationwide. Participant feedback reflected strong engagement and confidence to apply learning in practice, reinforcing the program’s contribution toward interrupting transmission, preventing lifelong disability, and leaving no one behind.

From evidence to action: Advancing healthy aging through systems change in Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten is confronting a rapid demographic shift, with a growing older population facing rising living costs, chronic disease, mobility challenges, and social isolation. To move beyond fragmented responses, PAHO supported the Government of Sint Maarten to undertake a comprehensive healthy aging baseline assessment – bringing together diverse stakeholders from government and civil society to generate the first integrated picture of aging across health, housing, social protection, and community life. The assessment revealed critical gaps in age-friendly services, while also identifying strong community assets and clear opportunities to integrate primary care, social services, and community support around functional ability and well-being.

Guided by this evidence, PAHO facilitated national dialogue to translate findings into a systems-level road map aligned with the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing. This process is shifting Sint Maarten from isolated interventions toward integrated, person-centered models, strengthening linkages between primary care and social services, improving navigation of benefits, promoting mobility and social connection, and embedding healthy aging priorities into policy and planning. As one government stakeholder acknowledged, older adults had long been overlooked, and elders were often treated as a forgotten group. This reality is now being actively addressed through coordinated reform.

The urgency of this transformation is voiced directly by an older resident interviewed during the assessment: “The older people, they need help. The pensioners, they need help. They’re crying.” By convening sectors, providing standardized frameworks, and grounding action in local evidence, PAHO is helping Sint Maarten move from fragmented services to an age-responsive system that prioritizes functional ability, dignity, and inclusion.