BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados has strengthened its role in regional public health with the formal designation of the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory as a World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Collaborating Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Surveillance.
From left: Minister of Health and Wellness, Senator Lisa Cummins; PAHO/WHO Representative, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dr. Amalia Del Riego; Director of the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory, Dr. Songee Beckles; and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, display the Certificate of Designation for the laboratory at a recognition ceremony. (Photo credit: BGIS)The designation was recognised during a ceremony at the laboratory’s Enmore Complex on Friday, where Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley described the achievement as a reflection of years of investment, technical excellence and regional cooperation.
Mottley said collaboration among international organisations, local institutions and academic bodies would be critical in addressing the growing global threat posed by antimicrobial resistance.
“I believe that the partnership between the international institutions, such as WHO and PAHO, with local institutions, with academic institutions, is at the core of our ability to be successful in this battle, and it is imperative that we use the language of our President: no retreat, no surrender,” she said.
The Prime Minister said the designation recognised Barbados’ sustained commitment to strengthening public health capacity in the Caribbean and comes as countries seek to curb the growing impact of antimicrobial resistance.
“We have committed, as a global community, at the United Nations General Assembly to be able to reduce the level of deaths from bacterial infection by 10 per cent,” Mottley said.
“We believe that it is through the actions that we are taking today that, in the good old tradition of the Barbadian proverb, one, one, blow is kill old cow, that we will achieve success globally.”
She added that Barbados was demonstrating its commitment through investment, training and policy reforms, saying the country was positioning itself as a model for small island developing states.
Director of the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory, Dr Songee Beckles, said the designation affirmed the institution’s technical capabilities and international standards in antimicrobial resistance detection and surveillance.
“In terms of our designation as a PAHO/WHO collaborative centre for AMR services and surveillance, it stamps our authority and shows the Caribbean, Barbados, and the wider international community that we are up to the quality standards that are required for AMR detection and surveillance,” Beckles said.
PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dr Amalia Del Riego, said the laboratory had for decades served as a regional hub for training, reference services and technical support.
She said health professionals from across the Caribbean had benefited from programmes hosted by the laboratory, returning to their countries with strengthened expertise in diagnostics, surveillance and public health response.
Del Riego noted that Barbados had consistently provided these services using its own resources, specialist expertise and laboratory facilities.
“This is the true spirit of a PAHO Collaborating Centre,” she said.
Minister of Health and Wellness Lisa Cummins said Barbados had long been at the forefront of efforts to address antimicrobial resistance and noted Mottley’s role as Chair of the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Cummins said Barbados had contributed significantly to international efforts, including the adoption of the United Nations Political Declaration on AMR, initiatives to secure financing for national responses and the establishment of global targets for 2030.
“Barbados has demonstrated both aspirational and inspirational leadership on antimicrobial resistance and many other public health issues,” she said.
Mottley, Cummins, Beckles and Del Riego all congratulated the laboratory’s staff for their contribution to public health and their role in securing the designation.
