Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 21 July 2026 — The Ministry of Health and Human Services was represented at the 2026 United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs) Public Health Conference held in London by Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Nadia Astwood, and Director of Health Policy and Planning, Mr. Lynrod Brooks.
The conference, sponsored by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), brought together Chief Medical Officers, Permanent Secretaries, senior public health officials, technical experts, and regional and international partners from across the Overseas Territories. Participants included representatives from the UKHSA, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), including its Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Indar.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Nathalie Wright, Head of the UKOTs Programme at UKHSA, welcomed delegates and underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration among the Overseas Territories to address emerging public health challenges. She emphasized that resilient health systems, strong partnerships, and knowledge sharing remain essential to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of populations across the Territories. Ms. Wright also highlighted UKHSA's continued commitment to supporting the Overseas Territories through technical assistance, capacity building, and health security initiatives.
The conference featured a comprehensive programme focused on strengthening public health systems and health security across the UKOTs. Key themes included artificial intelligence in public health, workforce resilience, emergency preparedness and response, antimicrobial resistance surveillance, vaccination programmes, port health systems, mental health during emergencies, cancer prevention, and tuberculosis surveillance.
As part of the conference programme, the Turks and Caicos Islands delegation visited Lewisham to meet with project leaders and observe community-based initiatives focused on cardiovascular disease prevention. The visit provided an opportunity to:
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Gain insight into the practical delivery of community-based approaches to non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention through partnerships with community champions and civil society organisations.
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Discuss the successes, lessons learned, and implementation challenges to help inform the planning and delivery of similar initiatives across the UK Overseas Territories.
Among the notable presentations was an insightful session by Professor Kevin Fenton, entitled "From Treatment to Prevention," which explored the growing need for health systems to shift from reactive models of care to proactive approaches that prioritize prevention, health promotion, and the social determinants of health. The presentation highlighted the long-term benefits of investing in prevention strategies to improve population health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Delegates also benefited from a presentation by Professor Ian Cumming, UK Ambassador for Healthcare to the Overseas Territories, who addressed the importance of strengthening major incident preparedness and response capabilities within remote and island communities. He emphasized the value of planning, partnership, and resilience in ensuring that health systems are equipped to respond effectively to emergencies and public health threats.
A major highlight of the conference was the presentation delivered by Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, who shared perspectives on emerging public health challenges, global health security, and the importance of evidence-based policymaking. Professor Whitty stressed the need for continued investment in surveillance systems, prevention programmes, and international collaboration to address both current and future public health risks.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Nadia Astwood, noted that the conference provided an invaluable opportunity to engage with regional and international colleagues on innovative approaches to strengthening health systems and improving public health outcomes.
"The conference highlighted the importance of collaboration, preparedness, and innovation in addressing evolving public health challenges. The knowledge gained and relationships strengthened will support our continued efforts to enhance health services and public health outcomes in the Turks and Caicos Islands," Dr. Astwood stated.
Director of Health Policy and Planning, Mr. Lynrod Brooks, emphasized the value of sharing experiences and learning from best practices across the Overseas Territories.
“Participation in this conference provides important opportunities to strengthen partnerships, explore innovative solutions, and inform evidence-based policies that support sustainable improvements in health service delivery and public health protection," Mr. Brooks commented.
Commenting on the Territory's participation, Hon. Kyle Knowles, Minister of Health and Human Services, stated:
"The Turks and Caicos Islands remains committed to building a modern, resilient, and responsive health system that meets the needs of our people. Participation in the UKOTs Public Health Conference ensures that we remain connected to global best practices and strengthens our ability to address emerging health challenges. I commend our delegation for representing the Turks and Caicos Islands and for advancing discussions that will contribute to improved health outcomes, stronger health security, and a healthier future for all residents."
The Ministry of Health and Human Services remains committed to working collaboratively with local, regional, and international partners to strengthen health security, improve population health, and ensure the continued development of a resilient and sustainable healthcare system for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
