On Monday, Minister of Health, Social Affairs, Elderly Care, and Addiction Management, Drs. Melvin Wyatt-Ras, officially opened the DuCaPHEN 2026 conference in Aruba. The minister highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and joint preparedness to strengthen public health in the Dutch Caribbean.
DuCaPHEN, the Dutch Caribbean Public Health Expertise Network, promotes collaboration, knowledge exchange, and coordination in public health across the Dutch Caribbean countries and territories.
The week-long conference brings together professionals, experts, epidemiologists, and public health partners from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Maarten, and Sint Eustatius, alongside representatives from the Netherlands, including the Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM).
Minister Wyatt-Ras emphasized that public health challenges know no borders. Infectious diseases, chronic illnesses, emergency preparedness, and other health threats affect all communities. Regional collaboration and data exchange are essential to protect and promote community well-being.
As the host country, Aruba welcomed participants and reaffirmed its commitment to cooperation, preparedness, and resilience in public health. The conference covers key topics including infectious disease prevention, epidemiological surveillance, vector control, emergency preparedness, and strengthening regional collaboration.
Organized in collaboration with RIVM and Aruba’s Public Health Service (DVG), DuCaPHEN provides a platform to share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and create new opportunities for collaboration across the Caribbean. This conference continues to play a vital role in improving regional coordination and public health resilience.
