Health teams receive DHIS2 training in St. Lucia

Castries, St. Lucia, 1 September 2025 (PAHO) - Health officials from across the Caribbean have acquired additional health information management skills following a PAHO mission in St. Lucia.

For health officials across the Caribbean, the journey to a more resilient public health system has been a long one, built on data and collaboration. Just three years ago, the DHIS2 information platform was a promising idea for St. Lucia; today, it is an essential tool. This transformation is a testament to the power of a collaborative approach and diverse funding streams, all coming together to strengthen the region's health information systems and disease surveillance.

A five-day training workshop entitled 'Strengthening Health Data Systems and SARI Sentinel Surveillance though the DHIS2 Platforms in Saint Lucia', brought health officials together from Suriname, Barbados, St Lucia, The British Virgin Islands, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. This training formed the second in a series of training, the first one of which was offered in Grenada earlier this year, a continuation of DHIS2 information platform implementation towards the digital transformation of health sector and especially to improve surveillance of influenza, COVID-19 and other diseases of pandemic potential.

As PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, Dr. Amalia Del Riego, noted, "Robust health information systems are foundational to effective public health surveillance and response, particularly in the face of emerging threats such as pandemics, vector-borne diseases, and noncommunicable conditions."

This was more than just training; it was an active working session. Participants, like the three officials seen in the photo, weren't just learning-they were actively using the platform to analyze data and troubleshoot program indicators that weren't performing as expected. St. Lucia, having adopted DHIS2 as its national platform, is leading the way in translating data into actionable insights.

This journey has been supported by many entities throughout its phases, especially the University of Oslo who is providing this training, funding from the Pandemic Fund Projects for Eastern Caribbean Countries, CARPHA, Pandemic Fund Project for Suriname, PAHO funds and CDC funds provided to PAHO. Previously support has been provided through the Green Climate Fund, the European Union - DEVCO project, USAID and PAHO funds which has led Saint Lucia to where it is now.