THE Coordinating Unit and Chairs of the Working Groups of the Caribbean Animal Health Network (CaribVET) met at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat in Georgetown, 14-15 February and revised the network’s Charter Document. The revised charter, which outlines the principles, organisation and functions of the network, will be presented for ratification when CaribVET’s steering committee meets in Georgetown during May, 2012.

The network’s membership, its visibility and proposals on sustaining the network were also discussed at the Georgetown meeting which was held in collaboration with the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD).

CaribVET is a network comprising 32 Caribbean countries and territories and 10 regional/international organisations, research institutes and universities involved in providing support to veterinary and veterinary public health services in the Caribbean.

The global objective of the regional animal health network is to improve the regional sanitary situation and to contribute to the harmonisation and reinforcement of animal diseases surveillance and control activities in the Caribbean, in order to safeguard animal and human health and to promote trade.

The network comprises a steering committee, a ‘secretariat/operations unit’, a coordination unit and several technical working groups. All members of the CaribVET sit on the steering committee which develops the network’s strategy based on the needs of member countries, while a small group of members comprises the coordination unit. The technical working groups conduct investigations and lend support to training activities related to diseases such as avian influenza, ticks and tick borne diseases, swine diseases, rabies, salmonellosis and leptospirosis. There are also two working groups which address laboratory infrastructure, quality assurance and training, and surveillance networks assessment, protocols, capacity building in epidemiology and risk assessments. These activities are performed through face to face meeting, virtual meetings, home work, and collaborative work among vet services, animal health experts and researchers

Expected outputs of the network include better and cost efficient surveillance of diseases, prediction of emergence, and preparation to disease outbreaks.

The network’s coordination unit ensures the coordination of the activities according to the recommendations of the steering committee; maintains the link between members and collaborators; facilitates the implementation of different projects and activities conducted by CaribVET; ensures the effective operation of the working groups; organises CaribVET meetings; and conducts external communication through regional and international events and meetings.

Over the years of existence, the CaribVET Network has earned the reputation of being a model for development and sharing of animal health information that can be adopted by small countries and regions for engaging the regulatory, research and private and public stakeholders. More information on the Network can be found at www.caribvet.net.