Health officials, emergency responders and representatives from key agencies are taking steps to ensure essential sexual and reproductive health services remain available during emergencies through a new national readiness assessment led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Officials gathered at United Nations House in Hastings on Monday for the opening of the two-day Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) Readiness Assessment and Action Planning Workshop. The initiative will assess the country’s preparedness to deliver life-saving reproductive health services during disasters, identify existing gaps and develop a national action plan to strengthen coordination and response.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George told workshop’s launch that while Barbados has avoided a major humanitarian crisis in recent years, it cannot afford to become complacent.