Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health has been harnessed to transform, connect and inform public health, using mobile apps for contact tracing; Online learning platforms for schools and universities normalized and CARPHA, as well as a number of companies implementing teleworking for employees.
Under the theme of COVID-19 and Digital Health: Transforming, Connecting, Informing Public Health, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in partnership with the Government of Jamaica through the Department of Health and Wellness, will host a combined conference-in-person and virtual event from September 15-17, 2022. The three-day conference, which will provide delegates with a platform to network and share research and insights, will be held at the AC Hotel in Kingston.
“The focus of this year’s CARPHA conference is as timely as it is important; and aligned with the strategic priorities of the Department of Health and Wellness. These priorities include the prevention and care management of noncommunicable diseases – NCDs, which are a scourge of Jamaican and Caribbean society,” noted Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, who spoke at the conference media launch on September 6.
“Our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the value of digitization for healthcare system resilience. What digitization is doing is creating an enabling environment for ensuring continuity of care for patients by offering collaborative care, cost control and population health management. At this year’s CARPHA conference, digitization is therefore given the attention it needs, even as we provide the platform for learning and planning through knowledge and experience sharing, which is reflected in the wide range of research on offer from across the region,” said the minister added.
Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr. Joy St. John said, “This 66th CARPHA Annual Health Research Conference is the first hybrid conference in more than six decades. CARPHA is passionate about showcasing and promoting the conduct of research in the region. Over the three days we have the opportunity to enjoy the research results presented by our own researchers: students, young researchers, research stars. The good thing about this conference is the perfect blend of youth and experience, providing an exciting insight into the Caribbean from a researcher’s perspective.”
A range of events including Town Hall Meeting; a regional health communication meeting, training in monitoring and assessment; a workshop on data analysis, dissemination and use; The conference will be preceded by meetings and training on vector-borne diseases. A meeting of the Caribbean counterparts on noncommunicable diseases, nutrition and mental health will also take place in the run-up to the conference.
Presentations will include Recovering from COVID-19: Role of Technology and Digital Health; Digital Health: Impact on Children; the association of birth weight and body composition during childhood in 1-year-old Jamaican children.
Exhibitors from the Caribbean and beyond will showcase their innovations, products and services to delegates.
CARPHA will also honor health professionals who have served the region and made tremendous contributions to promoting public health in the Caribbean. This year’s award winners are Dr. Victor Blanchette and Professor Seeromanie Harding.
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