Research Conference Opens in Grand Cayman
Over 150 delegates have arrived in Grand Cayman for the 57th Annual Caribbean Health and Research Council/Caribbean Public Health Agency (CHRC/CARPHA) Scientific Conference – the largest health research conference in the English-speaking Caribbean.
The conference is focused on researchers, policy makers and healthcare professionals and this year close to sixty researchers will share their findings.
Speaking at the opening ceremony that was held at the National Gallery last night (Thursday, 19 April), Minister of Health the Hon. Mark Scotland, JP, said that regional conferences such as this one contribute a great deal to pro-active public health initiatives which serves to improve the health of the region’s citizens exponentially.
“As I have noted at the opening of the 20th Meeting of the Chief Medical Officers on Monday, while the Cayman Islands is not a full CARICOM member, we have always supported and participated in regional health initiatives and know first hand the benefits derived from it,” he said.
The Minister added that while the Caribbean has made significant progress on a number of health issues, the region’s resolve will be tested by non-communicable diseases.
“Ailments such as hypertension, ischemic heart disease and stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes are the leading causes of premature death in our region. According to Pan American Health Organisation statistics a staggering two out of three deaths of people younger than 70 years results from a chronic disease.
“Simply put, the largest epidemic we are currently facing is the one of chronic non-communicable diseases.”
The 2012 CHRC/CARPHA Scientific Conference concludes on Saturday, 22 April and includes keynote lectures, satellite meetings hosted by professional medical societies and training workshops.
CHRC has successfully hosted its annual research conference since 1956, assigning a different host nation every year. However, this year is historical as it is the first time that the meeting is being hosted by the Cayman Islands.
