Building Stronger Foundations for AMR Surveillance in Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Bridgetown, Barbados, 10 April 2026 (PAHO/WHO) - Every day, laboratories quietly generate information that shapes how infections are treated and how health systems respond. When that information is clear, consistent, and well understood, it becomes a powerful tool in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) - a growing challenge that makes once-treatable infections harder to cure.

In January 2026, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) brought together laboratory professionals and public health teams from Haiti and the Dominican Republic for a shared learning experience: a virtual workshop focused on the standardised use of the WHONET program. Over two days, participants logged in to learn new software skills and strengthen a common approach to how AMR data is recorded, understood, and used.

Rather than lectures or one-way presentations, the workshop unfolded as a guided, hands-on process. Participants worked step-by-step through real laboratory tasks - setting up systems, exploring data, and learning how everyday laboratory results can be transformed into information that supports surveillance and decision-making.

"The consistent use of WHONET strengthens the scientific foundations of AMR surveillance - when laboratories apply standardized methods for data entry, interpretation, and analysis, resistance trends become more comparable and more actionable both within countries and across the Region." reflected Dr. Marcelo Galas, Technical Officer with PAHO/WHO's AMR Special Program. The information becomes more useful for national teams and for the patients behind the numbers."

The workshop was designed with continuity in mind. Beyond the live sessions, participants received practical exercises to complete at their own pace, along with opportunities for follow-up support and feedback. This ongoing accompaniment helped ensure that new skills could take root in daily laboratory work, long after the screens were closed.

For Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the workshop marked an important step in strengthening the foundations of AMR surveillance. By investing in people, shared tools, and common ways of working, laboratories are better equipped to tell the story behind the data -and to support health systems in protecting the effectiveness of the medicines communities depend on.

By embedding standardized tools within a framework of regional technical cooperation and South-South exchange, PAHO is supporting Caribbean countries in building sustainable, interoperable AMR surveillance systems that contribute to both national decision-making and regional health security.