AGP Executive Report

Malaria Elimination in the Guiana Shield: Suriname hosted a high-level subregional meeting with Brazil, French Guiana, and Guyana to renew commitments to accelerate malaria elimination, with PAHO leadership stressing action for mining communities, Indigenous groups, and remote border areas. Chikungunya Update: Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says chikungunya is no longer in the epidemic phase, though cases still circulate—especially in Paramaribo and Brokopondo—urging residents to keep preventing mosquito breeding. Medicines Quality & Lab Testing: PAHO, CARPHA, and USP ran a regional webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance and laboratory testing capacity, with participation from Suriname and other Caribbean countries. Tropical Medicine Training: Saint James School of Medicine’s Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Public Health was recognized by ASTMH as an approved diploma course, including a Suriname practicum focused on tropical diagnostics. Diabetes & Diet Drinks: New research links higher intake of non-sugar-sweetened beverages with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, including among younger adults and non-Dutch origin groups—relevant for Suriname’s public health nutrition conversations.

Malaria Elimination Push in the Guiana Shield: Health leaders from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname met in Paramaribo to renew regional commitments to speed up malaria elimination, with special focus on mining communities and Indigenous populations; PAHO senior leadership backed the effort and Suriname’s 2025 malaria-free certification was highlighted. Chikungunya Update: Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says chikungunya is no longer in an epidemic phase, though cases still occur in places like Paramaribo and Brokopondo—officials stress prevention and warn that spraying alone won’t stop mosquito breeding. Medicines Quality & Lab Testing: PAHO, CARPHA and USP held a Caribbean webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance and laboratory testing, bringing together regulators and labs from across the region including Suriname. Diet and Type 2 Diabetes Warning: New research suggests that switching from sugar-sweetened drinks to non-sugar-sweetened beverages may not lower type 2 diabetes risk, with higher risk seen in younger adults and people of non-Dutch origin, including Surinamese participants. Medicine Training in Suriname: Saint James School of Medicine announced its Tropical Medicine and Public Health diploma is recognized by ASTMH, featuring a hybrid program with in-person lab training in Suriname.

Malaria Elimination Push in the Guiana Shield: Health leaders from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname met in Paramaribo to renew regional commitments to speed up malaria elimination, with a focus on mining communities and Indigenous and remote border populations; Suriname’s 2025 malaria-free certification was highlighted, and PAHO senior leadership backed stronger cross-border support. Chikungunya Update: Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says the country is no longer in the chikungunya epidemic phase, though cases still circulate in areas like Paramaribo and Brokopondo—officials urge residents to keep preventing mosquito breeding, noting spraying alone isn’t enough. Medicines Quality & Lab Testing: PAHO, CARPHA, and USP held a Caribbean webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance and laboratory testing, bringing together regulators and quality control labs from across the region, including Suriname. Diet Drinks and Diabetes Risk: New research reports that higher intake of non-sugar-sweetened beverages may be linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, including in multiethnic groups that included Surinamese participants. Paraquat Under Review: Agricultural authorities in Barbados are considering tighter controls or a possible ban on paraquat, citing growing health concerns and international phase-out moves. Training for Groundfish Assessment: A CRFM workshop in Georgetown built capacity for data-limited groundfish stock assessment, with participation from Suriname and other regional fisheries professionals.

Diabetes & Diet Drinks: New research in the European Journal of Nutrition links higher intake of non-sugar-sweetened beverages to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, with the association strongest among younger adults and people of non-Dutch origin—so “diet” may not be the safer swap many expect. Malaria Elimination (Guiana Shield): Suriname and PAHO helped convene a subregional meeting in Paramaribo with Brazil, French Guiana, and Guyana, renewing commitments to accelerate malaria elimination, with special focus on mining communities and Indigenous and border populations. Chikungunya Update: Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says chikungunya is no longer in the epidemic phase, though cases still circulate in areas like Paramaribo and Brokopondo—officials urge continued prevention, not complacency. Medicines Quality (Caribbean): PAHO, CARPHA, and USP hosted a regional webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance and laboratory testing, with participation from Suriname and other Caribbean countries. Regional Health Capacity: A new tropical medicine diploma course was approved by ASTMH, featuring a Suriname practicum component for hands-on training in areas including malaria diagnosis.

Diabetes & Diet Drinks: A new European Journal of Nutrition study of 2,612 adults (including Surinamese participants) found higher intake of non-sugar-sweetened beverages was linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with the association strongest among younger adults and people of non-Dutch origin. Malaria Elimination in the Guiana Shield: Suriname and PAHO helped convene a subregional meeting with Brazil, French Guiana, and Guyana, renewing commitments to accelerate malaria-free efforts—especially targeting transmission in mining communities and among Indigenous and remote border populations. Chikungunya Update: Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says chikungunya is no longer in the epidemic phase, though cases still occur in places like Paramaribo and Brokopondo, and residents are urged to keep preventing mosquito breeding. Medicines Quality Boost: PAHO, CARPHA, and USP held a regional webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance and laboratory testing capacity across Caribbean countries, including Suriname. Regional Health Governance: The U.S. State Department flagged Suriname among Caribbean governments failing minimum fiscal transparency standards—an issue that can affect how health and development funds are monitored. Public Health Safety Watch: Barbados reports authorities are reviewing whether to ban or tighten controls on paraquat, a highly toxic weedkiller increasingly linked to serious health concerns.

Guiana Shield Malaria Push: Suriname and regional partners (Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana) met in Paramaribo to renew cross-border action to accelerate malaria elimination, with PAHO leadership stressing focus on mining communities, Indigenous groups, and remote border areas. Chikungunya Update: Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says chikungunya is no longer in an epidemic phase, though cases still circulate in places like Paramaribo and Brokopondo—officials urge continued prevention beyond spraying, including removing mosquito breeding water. Medicine Quality Boost: PAHO, CARPHA and USP held a Caribbean webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance and laboratory testing, including roundtable input from Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago. Nutrition & Diabetes Warning: A multiethnic study linked higher intake of non-sugar-sweetened beverages with higher type 2 diabetes risk, with higher risk seen among adults with BMI ≥ 25 and among Surinamese-origin participants. Public Health Training in Tropical Medicine: Saint James School of Medicine’s tropical medicine diploma was recognized by ASTMH and includes a Suriname practicum focused on malaria diagnosis and other lab skills. Digital Resilience for Health Systems: TELESUR and Liberty Networks expanded their partnership to improve connectivity resilience for Suriname’s oil & gas sector, supporting broader digital infrastructure needs.

Malaria Elimination Push: Suriname and PAHO opened a Guiana Shield subregional meeting in Paramaribo to accelerate cross-border malaria elimination, with high-level support and a focus on reaching mobile, mining, Indigenous, and remote border communities. Chikungunya Update: Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says chikungunya is no longer in the epidemic phase, though cases still circulate in places like Paramaribo and Brokopondo—so prevention must continue, not just spraying. Medicines Quality Boost: PAHO, CARPHA, and USP held a Caribbean webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance and laboratory testing, bringing together regulators and labs from across the region including Suriname. Training for Tropical Medicine: Saint James School of Medicine’s Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Public Health was recognized by ASTMH and includes a Suriname practicum focused on hands-on lab training for tropical diseases. Nutrition & Diabetes Watch: A multiethnic study linked higher intake of non-sugar-sweetened beverages to higher type 2 diabetes risk, including among Surinamese participants, raising questions about “diet” drink swaps. Public Health Safety Signals: Barbados authorities are reviewing tighter controls or a possible ban on paraquat, citing growing global health concerns tied to Parkinson’s disease and other harms.

Malaria Elimination Push: Suriname and PAHO opened a high-level Guiana Shield meeting in Paramaribo to accelerate cross-border malaria elimination, with Suriname’s 2025 malaria-free certification highlighted and leaders urging action for mobile, mining, Indigenous, and remote border communities. Chikungunya Update: Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says chikungunya is no longer in the epidemic phase, though cases still occur in places like Paramaribo and Brokopondo—officials stress ongoing prevention beyond spraying, including removing standing water. Medicines Quality Webinar: PAHO, CARPHA and USP held a regional technical webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance and laboratory testing across the Caribbean, with participation from Suriname and other countries. Tropical Medicine Training: Saint James School of Medicine announced its Tropical Medicine and Public Health diploma is recognized by ASTMH, with a Suriname practicum focused on lab training for malaria diagnosis and related areas. Diet & Diabetes Risk: A multiethnic cohort study links higher intake of non-sugar-sweetened beverages to higher type 2 diabetes risk, with substitution patterns also raising risk in some groups—relevant for Suriname’s nutrition and prevention conversations. Pesticide Safety Watch: Barbados reports agricultural authorities are considering tighter controls or a ban on paraquat (Gramoxone) amid growing health concerns, including links raised in studies to Parkinson’s disease.

Malaria Elimination Push: Suriname and PAHO opened a Guiana Shield subregional meeting in Paramaribo to accelerate cross-border malaria elimination, with President Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons and PAHO leadership backing efforts. Chikungunya Update: The Public Health Bureau says Suriname is no longer in the chikungunya epidemic phase, though cases still occur—especially in Paramaribo and Brokopondo—so residents are urged to keep preventing mosquito breeding. Medicines Quality Boost: PAHO, CARPHA and USP held a regional webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance and laboratory testing across Caribbean countries, including Suriname. Tropical Medicine Training: Saint James School of Medicine’s Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Public Health was recognized by ASTMH and listed as an approved diploma course, with a Suriname practicum component. Digital Resilience for Health Systems: Liberty Networks and TELESUR expanded their partnership via an MoU aimed at stronger connectivity and resilience for Suriname’s critical sectors, supporting the wider push for reliable digital infrastructure. Regional Governance Watch: A U.S. report flags Belize, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Suriname among governments failing minimum fiscal transparency standards—an issue that can affect how health funding is tracked and delivered.

Malaria Elimination Push: Suriname and PAHO opened a Guiana Shield subregional meeting in Paramaribo to accelerate malaria elimination, with high-level participation from President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons and PAHO leadership, focusing on cross-border action for mobile, mining, Indigenous, and remote border communities. Chikungunya Update: Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says chikungunya is no longer in the epidemic phase, though cases still occur—especially in Paramaribo and Brokopondo—urging residents to keep preventive measures up and target mosquito breeding sites beyond spraying. Medicines Quality Boost: PAHO, CARPHA and USP held a regional webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance and laboratory testing across the Caribbean, including a roundtable with national medicines quality control labs from Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago. Tropical Medicine Training: Saint James School of Medicine announced its Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Public Health is now recognized by ASTMH as an approved diploma course, with a Suriname practicum component. Digital Resilience for Health Systems: TELESUR and Liberty Networks signed an MoU to expand connectivity for Suriname’s oil & gas sector—supporting broader digital resilience that can indirectly strengthen service delivery. Fiscal Transparency Watch: The U.S. State Department flagged Belize, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Suriname for missing minimum fiscal transparency standards, a reminder that public oversight affects how health and other foreign-funded programs are tracked.

Chikungunya Update (Suriname): Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says chikungunya is no longer in the epidemic phase, though cases still circulate—especially in Paramaribo and Brokopondo—urging residents to keep removing mosquito breeding spots and not rely on spraying alone. Medicines Quality (PAHO/CARPHA/USP): PAHO, CARPHA and the U.S. Pharmacopeia held a regional webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance, lab testing capacity and regulatory systems, with participation from Suriname and other Caribbean countries. Tropical Medicine Training (ASTMH): Saint James School of Medicine announced its Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Public Health is now recognized by ASTMH as an approved diploma course, including a Suriname practicum focused on hands-on lab training. Climate & Child Health (UNICEF): UNICEF is rolling out climate-resilience training for staff worldwide, building climate knowledge across health, education and water teams to better protect children as climate hazards intensify. Digital Resilience (Suriname): TELESUR and Liberty Networks signed an MOU to expand connectivity and network resilience for Suriname’s Oil & Gas sector, supporting broader digital infrastructure goals.

Chikungunya Update (Suriname): Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says chikungunya is no longer in the epidemic phase, though cases still continue—especially in Paramaribo and Brokopondo. Officials note lab-confirmed and symptom-based infections have declined, and they urge residents to keep preventive habits up, warning that spraying alone won’t stop mosquitoes if breeding sites remain in stagnant water. Medicines Quality & Lab Testing (PAHO/CARPHA/USP): PAHO, CARPHA and the United States Pharmacopeia held a regional webinar to strengthen medicines quality assurance and laboratory testing across the Caribbean, with participation from Suriname and other countries. Tropical Medicine Training (ASTMH): Saint James School of Medicine’s Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Public Health was recognized by ASTMH and listed as an approved diploma course, including a practicum in Suriname focused on hands-on lab training. Digital Resilience for Health & Industry (TELESUR/Liberty Networks): TELESUR and Liberty Networks signed an MoU to expand connectivity and network resilience for Suriname’s oil & gas sector, supporting broader digital infrastructure needs. Parental Leave (Global Policy Watch): A global roundup highlights how some countries offer long, well-paid parental leave while others provide little support—relevant for health and family wellbeing policy discussions.

Chikungunya Update: Suriname’s Public Health Bureau says chikungunya is no longer in the epidemic phase, though the virus is still circulating, with cases mainly reported in Paramaribo and Brokopondo; lab-confirmed and symptom-based diagnoses have dropped, and officials stress that prevention can’t be dropped—spraying alone won’t stop mosquitoes if eggs and larvae survive in stagnant water, so residents are urged to remove or cover water containers like planters, vases, and animal bowls. Tropical Health Training: Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM) announced its Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Public Health is now officially recognized by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), with a Suriname in-person practicum component. Digital Resilience for Health & Services: TELESUR and Liberty Networks signed an MoU to strengthen connectivity and network resilience for Suriname’s oil & gas sector, supporting broader digital infrastructure needs.

Tropical Medicine Training: Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM) says its Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Public Health has been formally recognized by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), now appearing on ASTMH’s official list of approved diploma courses. The hybrid program pairs an online curriculum aligned with the CTropMed® exam outline with a four-week in-person practicum in Suriname, including hands-on lab training in areas like malaria diagnosis and stool parasitology. Digital Health & Resilience: TELESUR and Liberty Networks announced an expanded partnership aimed at stronger, more resilient connectivity for Suriname’s oil & gas sector—an upgrade that can also support broader public services and digital systems. Chikungunya Update: A report claims Suriname is no longer facing a chikungunya outbreak, easing pressure on local health monitoring and response.

Chikungunya Update (Suriname): Suriname is no longer facing a chikungunya outbreak, easing public health pressure after recent concerns. Regional Health & Food Security: A UN FAO report says hunger is falling faster in South America than anywhere else, with only 3.5% of people consuming insufficient calories—good news for nutrition and long-term health. Health & Care in the Region: A Caribbean academic freedom piece also highlights how nuclear safety and security, including peaceful nuclear uses in health care and agriculture, depends on strong democratic participation—relevant to how health systems plan and advocate. Local Health Context (Sports): While not medical, Suriname’s SV Broki is set to face Club Sando in the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup, keeping regional attention on travel and crowd health measures around match days.

Health & Wellness Local Lens: No Suriname-specific health or clinic updates appeared in this week’s retrieved set, so there’s nothing directly actionable for patients or providers in Suriname this round. Regional Food Security: A UN FAO report says hunger is falling faster across South America than anywhere else, with only 3.5% of people consuming insufficient calories—good news for nutrition and long-term public health planning. Travel & Access: Pakistan’s passport access is shifting with more e-visa/ETA options and fewer visa-on-arrival destinations, which can affect cross-border movement of patients and caregivers. Governance & Health Systems Context: A Caribbean academic freedom ranking highlights growing pressure on universities worldwide; that matters because research and training capacity underpin health care quality. Public Safety & Transport Risk: A leaked proposal in Guyana over the MV Barima salvage raises questions about how major incidents are handled—relevant to emergency preparedness and trauma care readiness across the region.