Providenciales, Turks and Caicos - Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Dr. The Honourable Rufus Ewing said last week that the Region must “go back to the family, to basics, if we are to successfully address issues such as teenage pregnancy, mental health and youth violence in the Caribbean.”

He made the point while addressing the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) 61st Health Research Conference at Beaches Resort, Providenciales.

 The Premier lamented that most countries in the Region are grappling with the increasing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases and Zika among other health threats.  He stated that the financial and economic impact of these threats can make “countries and individuals poor in an instant”.  For this reason, Premier Ewing believed the Conference theme, Family Health: Living Healthy at all Ages to be fitting as it provided a forum for sharing ideas and solutions to health priorities of the Region.

 Also speaking at the ceremony, CARPHA Executive Director, Dr. C. James Hospedales endorsed the importance of the health research conference, but pointed out that although evidence is gathered, the challenge is in implementation.  Dr. Hospedales told the audience, comprising public health professionals, policy-makers, clinicians and students, that there was a need to strengthen the ethical framework for research, but just as important was the ability to translate research into policy.

 This year’s Health Research Conference from June 23 – 25 was jointly hosted by the Government of Turks and Caicos Islands and CARPHA.  Dr. Hospedales revealed that next year’s conference will be held in Guyana with the theme, Climate Change: The Environment and Human Health. (CARPHA Press Release)