Regional researchers, scientists to meet in Guyana

Caribbean researchers and scientists will present papers ranging from the HIV/AIDS pandemic to the effects of flooding, to respiratory illnesses, at a major health conference here this month, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has confirmed.

The Caribbean Health Research Council’s (CHRC) 56th Annual Research Conference will take place during April 14-16.

CHRC Director Dr Donald Simeon said it provides opportunity to share research findings with persons who can actually use research. “The CHRC is about the promotion of evidence to guide policymakers, programme managers and care providers in terms of best practices,” he was quoted in the Jamaica Gleaner as saying.

According to him, papers from some 14 countries will be presented and discussed at the three- day conference.

These documents will look at issues such as paediatric cancers, diabetic foot ulcers, glaucoma, psychiatry, and gastroenteritis; as well as HIV/AIDS, family health, clinical medicine, and chronic diseases. Ten of these papers are from Guyana, and Dr Ramsammy said the applied research papers are leading to improved services.

“The others have the potential to increase knowledge pertaining to medicine and public health,” the Guyanese health minister added.

The CHRC director stated that “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.”

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 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. It serves Caribbean Community 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 1000 items, and 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.