Castries, Saint Lucia. May 9, 2024. Violence is endemic in the region, placing enormous strain on the health care system and incurring significant economic costs to society. Violence as a public health issue affects physical, mental, sexual, and even reproductive health.
For this reason, “Violence in the Caribbean: A public health crisis” was chosen as the theme for this year’s Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Annual Health Research Conference. This conference provided an opportunity to address this public health concern and provide scientific evidence and epidemiological data demonstrating the nature of the violence. and how health systems can help prevent and respond to violence as part of a multidisciplinary response.
The conference is now in its 68th year.th This year it was held in collaboration with the Government of Saint Lucia through the Ministry of Health.
In his featured address at the opening of the conference, St. Lucia Prime Minister Philippe J. Pierre welcomed the conference's research focus as it “helps fill gaps in our understanding of the drivers of crime and violence.” Stated. , as well as public health impacts at the individual and community level. ”
Speaking to the more than 300 attendees, he added: “This scourge has all the hallmarks of an epidemic. Based on statistics across our region, this is truly a public health crisis. Many factors contribute to its spread. Poverty, lack of access to resources, inequitable distribution of development benefits, declining family values, and youth unemployment are among the factors frequently cited as enabling the spread of this virus. is the rapid emergence of a gang culture that seems to have no age limit.
The Prime Minister added: “Adopting a public health approach to security will require significant investment in capacity development, both in terms of equipment and the training of frontline personnel.” Ideally, there should be a comprehensive assessment of training needs to adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to crime prevention and control. I believe that all governments in the Caribbean would benefit from a targeted and sustained action research agenda that provides real-time data on trends and dynamics of violent crime in different hotspots. ”
Dr. Joy St. John, CARPHA Executive Director, said in her opening remarks: We recognize that despite the Caribbean's idyllic image as a place of peace and relaxation, there are harsh realities of violence affecting our region. ”
She added: “The fact that CARPHA has chosen this topic is a sign of our commitment to systematically addressing this issue by highlighting the facts discovered through research and evidence. We're not afraid to tackle problems head-on. We're advancing the public health conversation, bringing security challenges, law enforcement realities, socio-economic status violations, and public health crises to the forefront. We are looking at this issue through a multidisciplinary lens, including the harm to human health that requires prioritization and intervention.”
Following the opening of the conference, a panel discussion was held. Towards change: the intersection of firearms and public healthThe event began with a keynote speech by Dr. Terence Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The Annual Health Research Conference was held from April 25th to 27th, 2024 at the Royalton St. Lucia Conference Center. At the conference, attendees had the opportunity to attend over 45 oral presentations, view over 55 poster presentations, and network with exhibitors from Saint Lucia and the region.
The conference featured the following featured lectures over two and a half days.
- According to Dr. Elizabeth Ward, the health service's contribution to reducing homicides in the Caribbean by 50% by 2030.
- Gun Violence in the Caribbean: A Focus on Guns and Bullets by Professor Stephen Hargarten (Virtual Presentation).and
- A look back at Tariq Weeks' findings on criminal organizations and prospects for change
The conference was attended by chief medical officers, researchers, physicians, nurses, law enforcement officials, and academics from across the Caribbean, Latin America, North America, and Europe.
A series of events including a town hall meeting on youth and violence. Training on monitoring and evaluation and data evaluation. The conference was preceded by a conference and training on vector-borne diseases. The conference was preceded by a meeting of CARICOM Chief Medical Officers.
A highlight of the conference is the Awards Banquet, where outstanding researchers are presented with prestigious awards for their contributions to science.
This year's award was given to
- Elizabeth Ward – Recognized for outstanding work in the field of violence and mitigation, recognized for “Public Health Achievement in Violence and Mitigation”
- Elizabeth Mandeville wins Donald Simeon Award for Best Student Essay
- Jihana Motley receives the David Picou Young Investigator Award
- 1centPlace Poster Winner Bibi Allie Charles
- 2n.d.Place Poster Winner Angelique Wilson Parkinson
