GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Caribbean researchers and scientists will present papers ranging from the HIV/AIDS pandemic to the effects of flooding on respiratory illnesses at a major health conference here next month.
The Caribbean Health Research Council’s (CHRC) 56th Annual Research Conference will take place from April 14-16 and CHRC Director, Dr. Donald Simeon, said it provides an opportunity to share research findings with persons who can actually use research.
“The CHRC is about the promotion of evidence to guide policy makers, programme managers and care providers in terms of best practices,” he told reporters, adding that papers from about 14 different countries will be presented and discussed at the three-day conference.
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He said the papers would look at issues on pediatric cancers, diabetic foot ulcers, glaucoma, psychiatry and gastroenteritis as well as HIV/AIDS, family health, clinical medicine and chronic diseases.
“The meeting is about partnership as well in that you can identify who are the persons throughout the Caribbean who have similar interests as you have and can perhaps work with you in the conducting of research,” Dr. Simeon said.
Another highlight of the three-day conference will be an awards banquet where Vice Chancellor of the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Jamaica, Professor Nigel Harris and Professor of Public Health, Epidemiology and HIV/AIDS, Peter Figueroa will be honoured.
The CHRC is the regional health institution with the mandate to promote and coordinate health research in the Caribbean and serves the CARICOM members by providing advice to their health ministries and other stakeholders.
Dr. Simeon said the Council recently completed a research agenda for the region with some 1, 000 items and they will be sending a priority list to the health ministers later this year for their endorsement.
The list includes work on chronic diseases, communicable diseases, family medicine, strengthening health systems, environmental health and human resource development.
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