Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a significant problem in the Caribbean, where many individuals have
African and Asian forebears. However, reliable prevalence data and specific health care programs
for SCD are often missing in this region. Closer collaboration between Caribbean territories
initiated in 2006 to set up strategies to promote better equity in the health care system for SCD
patients led to the formation of CAREST: the Caribbean Network of Researchers on Sickle
Cell Disease and Thalassemia. We present the effectiveness of collaborations established by
CAREST to promote SCD newborn screening programs and early childhood care, to facilitate
health worker training and approaches for prevention and treatment of SCD complications, and to
carry out inter-Caribbean research studies