CAREC PREPARES FOR 2007 WORLD CUP

In a news conference recently, Harris said 30 million people visit the Caribbean every year, and with the approach of the World Cup, it is important for CAREC to ‘beef up’ on their disease prevention methods.

Harris said most governments focus their concerns mainly on matters of national security rather than health and this issue has forced CAREC to reinforce its strategies in dealing with outbreaks of epidemics such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS) and Avian Influnenza.

Dr Lillian Reneau-Vernon, acting director of CAREC revealed the centre’s plans to put together a response team to readily attack any instance of epidemic outbreaks during World Cup 2007.

Vernon said a meeting between CAREC and Caricom is imminent.

She said Caricom countries would be encouraged to start allocating funds for epidemic prevention in their budgets.

Vernon said these funds would help enhance the equipment used by the centre and mobilise those who have the revelant medical and clinical expertise.