Representatives from the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability have returned from the UK Overseas Territories (UKOT) Public Health Conference with new knowledge, strengthened partnerships and practical insights that will help inform public health policy and planning in the Cayman Islands.
The conference, which took place in London at the end of June, brought together Chief Medical Officers, public health leaders and professionals from the majority of the UK Overseas Territories, alongside representatives from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and other partner organisations. Delegates shared presentations on their experiences, challenges and innovative approaches to addressing public health issues within their respective jurisdictions, providing valuable opportunities to learn from one another. The conference explored shared public health priorities, emerging challenges and evidence-based approaches to improving population health through prevention, collaboration and innovation.
The programme covered a broad range of topics, including health protection, emergency preparedness, prevention, health equity, behavioural science, community resilience and tackling health inequalities. Keynote speaker Professor Kevin Fenton CBE highlighted the importance of building trust through consistent engagement with communities and adopting system-wide approaches to improve health outcomes.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hilary Wolf said the conference reinforced the value of the Cayman Islands' longstanding relationship with public health partners in the United Kingdom.
"The UK Overseas Territories benefit significantly from the expertise, technical support and resources available through our partnership with the UK Health Security Agency and other UK organisations. These longstanding relationships enable us to share knowledge, learn from emerging evidence and strengthen our collective capacity to respond to public health challenges. As we continue to develop public health policy in the Cayman Islands, these partnerships remain an invaluable resource."
Chief Nursing Officer Ms. Felicia McLean said the conference highlighted the importance of prevention and strong community partnerships.
"Many of the discussions focused on prevention, health equity and community engagement. These are priorities that resonate in the Cayman Islands, and it was valuable to learn how other jurisdictions are working across sectors to improve health outcomes and strengthen community resilience."
As part of the conference’s itinerary, the Ministry delegation participated in three site visits hosted by Lewisham Council and local health partners. The first visit was to the Lewisham District Office, where delegates learned about the borough's Health Equity Teams (HET) programme, an initiative developed to address racial health inequalities through partnership working. The second visit showcased the North Lewisham Primary Care Network (PCN) and Red Ribbon's Healthy Hearts programme, highlighting collaborative approaches to cardiovascular health and community engagement. The third visit focused on the Lewisham Alliance PCN and Coco Collective's Plantain Programme, demonstrating innovative partnership models to improve health outcomes within diverse communities.
The visits provided first-hand insight into how sustained collaboration between primary care providers, local authorities and voluntary sector organisations is helping to deliver more equitable health outcomes and improve population health. Delegates also explored how these initiatives engage communities, build trust and use local data to target interventions, providing valuable lessons that can help inform future public health policy and partnership approaches in the Cayman Islands.
Policy Support Officer Ms. Halle Miller said the conference and site visits provided valuable opportunities to learn from colleagues across the region. "It was a real privilege to engage with so many dedicated professionals and to learn from their experiences across the UK Overseas Territories. I leave with a renewed appreciation for the commitment of public health colleagues across the region, and I look forward to collaborating on future initiatives to strengthen health security and improve health outcomes across our territories."
Chief Officer for the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability, Ms. Tamara Ebanks added that her support saying: “Our participation and presence at the UK Overseas Territories Public Health Conference provides invaluable experience to our policy teams, strengthens relationships with regional and international partners and provides practical knowledge that will support the development of evidence-based public health policy in the Cayman Islands.”
The Ministry remains committed to working collaboratively with partners across the UK Overseas Territories and beyond to improve health outcomes, strengthen health security and build a healthier future for all Cayman Islands residents.