Barbados advances digital disease surveillance with VPD-SMART training

Bridgetown, Barbados, 21 July 2026 (PAHO/WHO) - The Ministry of Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), is strengthening Barbados' capacity to detect, report and respond to vaccine-preventable diseases through the introduction of the Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Surveillance Monitoring and Reporting Tool (VPD-SMART).

A two-day technical mission, held on 20-21 July 2026, brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health's surveillance teams, information technology specialists, PAHO's Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) Surveillance Information Systems Team, the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre (WDC), and the PAHO/WHO Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries to support the country's implementation of the digital surveillance platform.

Since 2023, PAHO has been leading a regional initiative to modernize epidemiological surveillance for diseases targeted for elimination in the Americas, including measles, rubella and poliomyelitis, using the VPD-SMART tool, a surveillance system built on the DHIS2 platform, designed to improve the collection, management, and analysis and reporting of surveillance data.

Although Barbados participated in virtual training during 2025, the in-country mission provided participants with practical, hands-on training to accelerate implementation of the system and strengthen national capacity to manage surveillance information more effectively.

Speaking during the workshop, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, Dr. Prabhjot Singh, highlighted Barbados' progress in digital health and disease surveillance.

"Barbados is the third country in the Caribbean to begin implementing VPD-SMART for vaccine-preventable diseases. The initial focus is on measles, rubella and polio, three diseases that have already been eliminated in Barbados. While these diseases are no longer endemic, they remain internationally notifiable, making strong surveillance essential to detect and respond rapidly to any imported cases."

Dr. Solange Kobi-Jackson, PAHO/WHO Advisor for Family and Life Course, also Advisor for Immunization for Barbados and ECC emphasized that the use of VPD-SMART aligns closely with Barbados' broader digital transformation agenda.

"This training on the use of VPD-SMART represents another important step in the country's digital transformation journey. Barbados has already successfully adopted the DHIS2 platform to support the Antenatal Care Service and the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, with many healthcare workers already familiar with the system. Expanding its use through VPD-SMART builds on that foundation and further strengthens the country's public health surveillance capacity."

The mission focused on assessing Barbados' current surveillance systems and preparing for full implementation of VPD-SMART. Key objectives included reviewing existing surveillance and laboratory data flows, analyzing current epidemiological surveillance processes, assessing software currently used for disease surveillance, providing comprehensive training for national personnel, establishing standardized data management processes to ensure data quality and sustainability, and defining the next steps for nationwide implementation.

The introduction of VPD-SMART is expected to enhance the country's ability to rapidly detect and investigate suspected cases of vaccine-preventable diseases, improve the quality and timeliness of reporting, strengthen compliance with international disease notification requirements and improve the workforce workload and capacity.

The initiative also supports Barbados' ongoing efforts to modernize its health information systems and reinforces the country's commitment to maintaining its elimination status for measles, rubella and polio through robust, real-time surveillance.