The Caribbean Public Health Agency (along with the Ministry of Health) will host the 68th Annual Health Research Conference in Saint Lucia this year.
Under the theme Violence in the Caribbean: A Public Health Crisis, the conference (which will be held from April 25-27) will seek to generate research, innovative thinking and best practices to help reduce and break the cycle of violence.
The conference will also provide scientific evidence/epidemiological data that will demonstrate how health systems can help to prevent and respond to violence as part of a multisectoral response.
“We will create the environment to foster the exchange of knowledge among health and allied health professionals and policymakers through their presentations, consultations and discussions as they try to find solutions to public health issues,” Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste said.
Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency, said the conference “will showcase the Caribbean situation, seek solutions to our peculiar challenges, and bring multiple sectors together to start the conversations that will build consensus for effective national and regional actions.”
“In the wider world, crime and violence are devastating governments, businesses, communities, schools, families and livelihoods. The Caribbean has not been able to escape the scourge; we need to halt the erosion of CARICOM’s developmental potential,” St. John said.
According to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Belmar-George, “this conference provides an excellent opportunity for all health-related practitioners to actively participate. It will strengthen the research agenda which is a priority (for) the Ministry of Health.”