At a glance
Established in 2023, U.S. CDC’s Central America and Caribbean Regional Office (CACRO), located in Panama City, Panama, is positioned to build on CDC’s longstanding critical work in the region, including HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis programming. U.S. CDC aims to advance regional health security by addressing transnational health threats, and is partnering with regional health organizations to support capacity building and systems strengthening in data modernization, vector-borne diseases, and migration.
Overview
In 2003, CDC established a Central America Office in Guatemala and a Caribbean Office in 2006 in Trinidad and Tobago. The Caribbean Office later relocated to Bridgetown, Barbados in 2008 before finally settling in Kingston, Jamaica in 2015.
CACRO aims is to advance the regional health security goals. CACRO will build on the critical work from the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti and Jamaica offices to address emerging health threats in either subregion. CACRO will focus on urgent global health activities aligned with the Agency's strategic priorities—specifically early warning systems for improved preparedness and response and health equity including migrant health.
CACRO will partner with regional health organizations to support member states' capacity building and systems strengthening efforts. in data modernization. This includes:
- Health information systems
- Surveillance
- Data forecasting
In addition, the office will address important regional issues such as vector-borne diseases and climate and health.
Key areas of focus
Reflecting U.S. CDC’s Global Health Strategy, CACRO is focused on responding to health threats by building core public health capacities in:
- Public health surveillance and data use
- Laboratory systems strengthening
- Workforce development
- Emergency preparedness and response
- Border health and migrant health
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Health equity
- Climate and health, including One Health
Regional goals
U.S. CDC and partners will collaborate to:
- Enhance existing and develop new partnerships to improve regional health security coordination, collaboration, and communication.
- Strengthen public health and clinical laboratory systems serving human and animal sectors.
- Strengthen data modernization initiatives through surveillance and health information systems.
- Promote public health science and research to ensure policy, guidelines, and recommendations are evidence-based.
- Strengthen health equity by improving quality of and accessibility to essential public health services for all – including indigenous populations and migrants.
