Advancing health, readiness, and resilience: The continuing journey of PAHO and the Barbados Defence Force
Advancing health, readiness, and resilience: The continuing journey of PAHO and the Barbados Defence Force
A trusted partnership which has stood the test of time, uniting efforts to equip the Barbados Defence Force with the tools, skills, and support needed to meet evolving challenges.
— March 2025 —
For decades, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) have worked closely to strengthen national readiness, build capacity, and protect the health and wellbeing of the Barbadian population and beyond. Their collaboration spans emergency preparedness, Emergency Medical Team (EMT) training, preparation for field medical hospital accreditation, and joint response actions, a partnership built on shared purpose and unwavering commitment.
Over the past five months, this collaboration has deepened even further. At the request of the BDF, PAHO delivered two specialised capacity‑building sessions: one on mental health and wellbeing for service personnel and civilian members, and another on effective communication and team building for senior leadership.
Photo credit: PAHO/WHO ECC Office - Ross University School of Medicine collaboration
An important component of these two most recent activities was the contribution of Ross University School of Medicine, who provided on‑site health checks for participating BDF personnel. Their involvement complemented PAHO’s technical guidance by ensuring a holistic approach, reinforcing both the mental and physical wellbeing of service members.
Photo credit: PAHO/WHO ECC Office - PAHO team facilitating a training session.
On 6 February 2026, PAHO facilitated a 2.5‑hour workshop for the BDF designed to strengthen communication, trust, and leadership across the organisation. The session focused on strengthening communication skills, improving collaboration, enhancing problem‑solving, and boosting team morale and cohesion.
The workshop began with a warm introduction and an energizing icebreaker, 'Two Truths and a Lie,' which set the tone for open engagement. Participants explored clarity, empathy, active listening, and constructive feedback, while also examining communication barriers linked to mental health, gender‑based violence, and sexual misconduct, particularly in disaster contexts. Hands‑on challenges such as the Perfect Pentagon and the Marshmallow Tower deepened insights into teamwork, strategy, and trust. The session concluded with the Human Timeline exercise, prompting participants to reflect on readiness, morale, mission success, and communication culture.
Photo credit: PAHO/WHO ECC Office - Amalia Del Riego, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, and Lealou Reballos - Advisor, Health Emergencies (Caribbean) touring the mobile field hospital.
The PAHO produced documentary, ‘Beyond Borders: The Barbados Defence Force Field Medical Hospital’, further highlights the strength of this partnership. The film traces the origins of the mobile field hospital, the critical role it plays in Barbados and the region, and the achievements of PAHO and the BDF in attaining Type 1 EMT accreditation, with ongoing joint efforts toward Type 2 accreditation.
“PAHO/WHO is very pleased to have partnered with the BDF in support of establishing this impressive facility. It is reassuring to know that this infrastructure is available to respond to emergencies in any part of the region in the shortest possible time. Our organizations have had a long history of collaboration, and we look forward to continuing this partnership,” said Dr. Amalia Del Riego, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, PAHO routinely supported the Barbados Defence Force through the donation of thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks and gowns, as well as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) supplies. This sustained assistance strengthened the BDF’s operational capacity and safeguarded frontline personnel.
The recent February workshop builds on a long history of collaboration documented through public news releases and updates, from mental wellness programmes to emergency response support, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) donations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and mobile field hospital strengthening. With continued contributions from PAHO’s technical teams, the operational strength of the BDF, and supportive partners such as Ross University School of Medicine, this partnership continues to grow, resulting in healthier teams, stronger institutions, and a more resilient Barbados and region prepared to face evolving challenges.
