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Sahadeo NSD, Nicholls S, Moreira FRR, O'Toole Á, Ramkissoon V, Whittaker C, Hill V, McCrone JT, Mohammed N, Ramjag A, Jordan AB, Hill SC, Singh R, Nathaniel-Girdharrie SM, Hinds A, Ramkissoon N, Parag KV, Nandram N, Parasram R, Khan-Mohammed Z, Edghill L, Indar L, Andrewin A, Sealey-Thomas R, McMillan P, Oyinloye A, George K, Potter I, Lee J, Johnson D, Charles S, Singh N, Bisesor-McKenzie J, Laws H, Belmar-George S, Keizer-Beache S, Greenaway-Duberry S, Ashwood N, Foster JE, Georges K, Naidu R, Ivey M, Giddings S, Haraksingh R, Ramsubhag A, Jayaraman J, Chinnadurai C, Oura C, Pybus OG, St John J, Gonzalez-Escobar G, Faria NR, Carrington CVF. Correction: Implementation of Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in the Caribbean: Lessons learned for sustainability in resource-limited settings. PLOS Glob Public Health 2023; 3:e0002393. [PMID: 37695757 PMCID: PMC10495005 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001455.].
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Sahadeo NSD, Nicholls S, Moreira FRR, O’Toole Á, Ramkissoon V, Whittaker C, Hill V, McCrone JT, Mohammed N, Ramjag A, Brown Jordan A, Hill SC, Singh R, Nathaniel-Girdharrie SM, Hinds A, Ramkissoon N, Parag KV, Nandram N, Parasram R, Khan-Mohammed Z, Edghill L, Indar L, Andrewin A, Sealey-Thomas R, McMillan P, Oyinloye A, George K, Potter I, Lee J, Johnson D, Charles S, Singh N, Bisesor-McKenzie J, Laws H, Belmar-George S, Keizer-Beache S, Greenaway-Duberry S, Ashwood N, Foster JE, Georges K, Naidu R, Ivey M, Giddings S, Haraksingh R, Ramsubhag A, Jayaraman J, Chinnadurai C, Oura C, Pybus OG, St. John J, Gonzalez-Escobar G, Faria NR, Carrington CVF. Implementation of genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in the Caribbean: Lessons learned for sustainability in resource-limited settings. PLOS Glob Public Health 2023; 3:e0001455. [PMID: 36963002 PMCID: PMC10022082 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of global genomic surveillance to monitor the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants and inform public health decision-making. Until December 2020 there was minimal capacity for viral genomic surveillance in most Caribbean countries. To overcome this constraint, the COVID-19: Infectious disease Molecular epidemiology for PAthogen Control & Tracking (COVID-19 IMPACT) project was implemented to establish rapid SARS-CoV-2 whole genome nanopore sequencing at The University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and provide needed SARS-CoV-2 sequencing services for T&T and other Caribbean Public Health Agency Member States (CMS). Using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION sequencing platform and ARTIC network sequencing protocols and bioinformatics pipeline, a total of 3610 SARS-CoV-2 positive RNA samples, received from 17 CMS, were sequenced in-situ during the period December 5th 2020 to December 31st 2021. Ninety-one Pango lineages, including those of five variants of concern (VOC), were identified. Genetic analysis revealed at least 260 introductions to the CMS from other global regions. For each of the 17 CMS, the percentage of reported COVID-19 cases sequenced by the COVID-19 IMPACT laboratory ranged from 0·02% to 3·80% (median = 1·12%). Sequences submitted to GISAID by our study represented 73·3% of all SARS-CoV-2 sequences from the 17 CMS available on the database up to December 31st 2021. Increased staffing, process and infrastructural improvement over the course of the project helped reduce turnaround times for reporting to originating institutions and sequence uploads to GISAID. Insights from our genomic surveillance network in the Caribbean region directly influenced non-pharmaceutical countermeasures in the CMS countries. However, limited availability of associated surveillance and clinical data made it challenging to contextualise the observed SARS-CoV-2 diversity and evolution, highlighting the need for development of infrastructure for collecting and integrating genomic sequencing data and sample-associated metadata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita S. D. Sahadeo
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Soren Nicholls
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Filipe R. R. Moreira
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Áine O’Toole
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Vernie Ramkissoon
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Charles Whittaker
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Verity Hill
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - John T. McCrone
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Mohammed
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Anushka Ramjag
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Arianne Brown Jordan
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Sarah C. Hill
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Risha Singh
- Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Headquartered in Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | | | - Avery Hinds
- Ministry of Health, Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Nuala Ramkissoon
- Ministry of Health, Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Kris V. Parag
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Naresh Nandram
- Ministry of Health, Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Roshan Parasram
- Ministry of Health, Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | | | - Lisa Edghill
- Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Headquartered in Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Lisa Indar
- Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Headquartered in Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Irad Potter
- Ministry of Health and Social Development, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
| | - John Lee
- Ministry of Health and Wellness, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
| | - David Johnson
- Ministry of Health, Wellness and New Health Investment, Roseau, Dominica
| | | | | | | | - Hazel Laws
- Ministry of Health, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | | | - Simone Keizer-Beache
- Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| | | | - Nadia Ashwood
- Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands
| | - Jerome E. Foster
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Karla Georges
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Rahul Naidu
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Marsha Ivey
- Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Stanley Giddings
- Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Rajini Haraksingh
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Adesh Ramsubhag
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Jayaraj Jayaraman
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Chinnaraja Chinnadurai
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Technology, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Christopher Oura
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Oliver G. Pybus
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joy St. John
- Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Headquartered in Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Gabriel Gonzalez-Escobar
- Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Headquartered in Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Nuno R. Faria
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias e Instituto de Medicina Tropical da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Christine V. F. Carrington
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
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Walker IF, Asher L, Pari A, Attride-Stirling J, Oyinloye AO, Simmons C, Potter I, Rubaine V, Samuel JM, Andrewin A, Flynn J, McGill AL, Greenaway-Duberry S, Malcom AB, Mann G, Razavi A, Gibson RC. Mental health systems in six Caribbean small island developing states: a comparative situational analysis. Int J Ment Health Syst 2022; 16:39. [PMID: 35962382 PMCID: PMC9372926 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-022-00552-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Small island developing states (SIDS) have particular mental health system needs due to their remoteness and narrow resource base. We conducted situational analyses to support mental health system strengthening in six SIDS: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands. Methods The situational analyses covered five domains: 1. Socio-economic context and burden of mental disorders, 2. Leadership and governance for mental health 3. Mental health and social care services 4. Strategies for promotion and prevention in mental health and 5. Information systems, evidence and research for mental health. First, a desk-based exercise was conducted, in which data was drawn from the public domain. Second, a field visit was conducted at each site, comprising visits to facilities and consultation meetings with key stakeholders. Results Our key findings were 1. Despite most of these SIDS being high-income economies, social inequalities within states exist. There was no population-level data on mental health burden. 2. All SIDS have a mental health policy or plan, but implementation is typically limited due to lack of funds or staff shortages. There was minimal evidence of service user involvement in policy or service development. 3. All SIDS have a specialist, multi-disciplinary mental health workforce, however Montserrat and Anguilla rely on visiting psychiatrists. Child and adolescent and dedicated crisis intervention services were found in only two and one SIDS respectively. A recovery-oriented ethos was not identified in any SIDS. 4. Mental illness stigma was prevalent in all SIDS. Promotion and prevention were objectives of mental health strategies for all SIDS, however activities tended to be sporadic. No mental health non-Governmental organisations were identified in three SIDS. 5. Health information systems are generally underdeveloped, with paper-based systems in three SIDS. There has been no rigorous local mental health research. Conclusion Cross-cutting recommendations include: to develop mental health action plans that include clear implementation indicators; to facilitate community surveys to ascertain the prevalence of mental disorders; to explore task-sharing approaches to increase access to primary mental health care; and to develop programmes of mental health promotion and prevention. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13033-022-00552-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian F Walker
- Public Health England, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, UK.
| | - Laura Asher
- Public Health England, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, UK.,University of Nottingham, School of Medicine, Academic Unit of Population and Lifespan Sciences, Nottingham, UK
| | - Anees Pari
- Public Health England, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, UK
| | | | | | | | - Irad Potter
- Ministry of Health and Social Development, Government of the Virgin Islands, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
| | - Virginia Rubaine
- Health Services Authority, Government of the Virgin Islands, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
| | - June M Samuel
- Ministry of Health and Social Development, Government of the Virgin Islands, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.,Health Services Authority, Government of the Virgin Islands, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
| | - Aisha Andrewin
- Ministry of Health and Social Development, Government of Anguilla, The Valley, Anguilla
| | - Janett Flynn
- Ministry of Health, Environment, Culture and Housing, Cayman Islands Government, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
| | - Arline L McGill
- Health Services Authority, George Town Hospital, Cayman Islands Government, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
| | | | - Alicia B Malcom
- Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services, Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands
| | - Gemma Mann
- Public Health England, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, UK
| | - Ahmed Razavi
- Public Health England, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, UK
| | - Roger C Gibson
- Department of Community Health & Psychiatry, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica
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Potter I, Petersen T, D'Agostino M, Doane D, Ruiz P, Marti M, Fitzgerald J, Del Riego A, de Cosio FG, Espinal M. The Virgin Islands National Information Systems for Health: vision, actions, and lessons learned for advancing the national public health agenda. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2019; 42:e156. [PMID: 31093184 PMCID: PMC6386123 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2018.156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) Ministry of Health and Social Development (MOHSD) recently identified the need for an updated strategy to advance the country's vision for Information Systems for Health (IS4H) ("Informed decision-making for better health outcomes"). Since the early 1990s, the MOHSD has recognized the importance of having strong conceptual foundations and mechanisms for its information systems, and the need to strengthen the production and use of good-quality health data to enable fulfillment of the territory's health goals. Therefore, in May 2017, BVI requested technical assistance from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to develop a plan/"road map" for strengthening the MOHSD's stewardship capacity for IS4H. This resulted in a bilateral, country-led collaboration between PAHO and the Ministry to carry out two assessments of BVI's National Information Systems for Health (NISH): 1) a rapid assessment to map NISH policy, to develop a short- and medium-term workplan for strengthening and updating it, and 2) a maturity assessment, using PAHO's IS4H Maturity Model tool, to evaluate the implementation of NISH policy thus far and determine next steps. This article describes 1) the steps taken in this bilateral collaboration to update BVI's NISH policy and fine-tune its IS4H vision, including the development of a national plan/road map, and 2) lessons learned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irad Potter
- Ministry of Health and Social Development, Tortola, Virgin Islands
| | - Tracia Petersen
- Ministry of Health and Social Development, Tortola, Virgin Islands
| | - Marcelo D'Agostino
- Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | | | - Patricia Ruiz
- Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Myrna Marti
- Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - James Fitzgerald
- Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Amalia Del Riego
- Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Federico G de Cosio
- Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Marcos Espinal
- Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., United States of America
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