Nicole Dawkins-Wright, Director of Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services, outlined that the 16th Annual National Health Research Conference (NHRC) remains the Ministry of Health and Wellness premier national forum for highlighting research conducted within Jamaica’s public health system.

She emphasised that the NHRC promotes the use of evidence-based research to strengthen policy, programmes and service delivery.

Providing greetings on behalf of the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jacqueline Bisasor-McKenzie, Wright announced the conference’s theme, Health for All in a Changing Environment, reflects Jamaica’s long-standing commitment to primary health care, the principles of the  Alma-Ata Declaration and the global commitment to leave no one behind under the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration is a landmark public health document that identified primary health care (PHC) as the key to achieving the goal of “Health for All.” Passed by the WHO and UNICEF in the USSR, it declared health a fundamental human right, emphasised social justice, and called for urgent action to develop national, community-based health systems, particularly in developing nations. 

Wright said as Jamaica continues its recovery following the impact of Hurricane Melissa, “the theme underscores the importance of resilience, adaptability and coordinated action across government and society.”

The conference, which will run for three days, aims to engage participants in oral and poster presentations, special presentations, panel discussions and workshops addressing key priority areas, including non-communicable diseases, demographic change, workplace wellness and the application of artificial intelligence and robotics in health care.

“These sessions are intended to support the generation and application of practical, locally relevant solutions to Jamaica’s health challenges.

“The ministry is therefore especially pleased to continue advancing the National Health Research Agenda and the Research for Wellness Fund, which demonstrates our commitment to investing in high-quality research that can be translated into improved health outcomes for our population,” Wright continued.