Experiences with SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in Trinidad and Tobago, a small island developing state: realities and opportunities

Darren Dookeeram; Seetharaman Hariharan; Ian Hambleton; Kareema Ali; Surujpaul Teelucksingh; Samuel Ramsewak; Dave Dookeeram; Sandeep Bhupendra Maharaj

doi:10.1016/j.lana.2023.100589

Experiences with SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in Trinidad and Tobago, a small island developing state: realities and opportunities

Lancet Reg Health Am. 2023 Sep 11:26:100589. doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2023.100589. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Authors

Darren Dookeeram^{1

2}, Seetharaman Hariharan³, Ian Hambleton^{4

5}, Kareema Ali¹, Surujpaul Teelucksingh⁵, Samuel Ramsewak⁵, Dave Dookeeram⁶, Sandeep Bhupendra Maharaj^{2

7}

Affiliations

¹ Sangre Grande Hospital, Eastern Regional Health Authority, Trinidad and Tobago.
² School of Pharmacy, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
³ School of Graduate Studies, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
⁴ George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Barbados.
⁵ Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
⁶ DispatchHealth, Denver, CO, USA.
⁷ Planetary Health Alliance, Boston, MA, USA.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted significant global challenges that are expressed in a variety of socio-politico-economic scenarios, depending upon individual countries' preparedness and resilience. The impact COVID-19 in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), most of which are categorized as Lower and Middle-Income Countries, has been pronounced. Furthermore, many of these SIDS possess specific vulnerabilities to global threats. This paper contextualizes the experience of Trinidad and Tobago from some perspectives of geoeconomics, healthcare, and international relations. In many ways, the experience is similar to that of other SIDS with the inherent nuances of a post-colonial world. Trinidad and Tobago was ranked number one by the Oxford University COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) "Lockdown rollback checklist: Do countries meet WHO recommendations for rolling back lockdown?". Despite the significant political support to combat the disease, by the end of 2022, the country had recorded over four thousand deaths and just over 50% of the population is vaccinated. This paper seeks to discuss the successes and challenges faced by this twin island state.

Keywords: COVID 19; Opportunities; Trinidad and Tobago.

Publication types

Review