Saint Lucia Increases Health Monitoring to Elevate Cruise Tourism Safety

A prominent health delegation from Saint Lucia recently participated in a significant regional conference aimed at improving the early detection of diseases and public health monitoring within the Caribbean cruise tourism industry. This crucial event unfolded in St. Maarten last month as part of the Regional Caribbean Vessel Surveillance System (CVSS) initiative, uniting health officials from multiple nations to enhance CARPHA’s digital platform for real-time monitoring of travel-associated illnesses.Saint Lucia’s delegation comprised Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar George, National Epidemiologist Dr. Michelle Francois, and Environmental Health Officer Velon Charmon. They collaborated with representatives from other member countries to devise strategies for integrating the CVSS into national health infrastructures, thereby bolstering regional disease surveillance efforts.The Ministry of Health highlighted that the CVSS plays an essential role in the prompt identification and coordinated reaction to health threats associated with cruise tourism, especially as projections indicate over 33.3 million cruise travelers are anticipated in the Caribbean in 2024, raising concerns over infectious disease risks.