BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nov 2, CMC -The 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) delivered free health testing at all eight host venues, with 5,555 people screened for non-communicable diseases during the tournament’s landmark public health programme.
Working with regional health authorities and non-governmental organisations, health professionals offered fans complimentary blood pressure checks, blood glucose testing, Body Mass Index assessments, urinalysis and PSA testing in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The CPL described the initiative as the Caribbean’s largest programme of its kind.
Across the territories where counts were reported, 984 referrals and follow-up vouchers were issued, connecting those screened with local health services for further support.
Pete Russell, CEO of the Republic Bank CPL, said: “Screening more than 5,500 people in a single season shows what is possible when cricket and public health work together.
Every referral issued is an opportunity for someone to take a positive step for their health, and we are grateful to the health professionals and partners who made this possible.
We are proud to have played our part and look forward to making this a permanent fixture of the CPL calendar.”
Dr Rene Best, CPL’s Chief Medical Officer, said: “Achieving screening on this scale is a remarkable accomplishment and reflects CPL’s strong commitment to the health and well-being of Caribbean people. It represents a significant step forward in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which continue to place an enormous burden on our region.
“Early detection, education and timely intervention can change lives, prevent complications and, ultimately, save lives.”
Following this year’s programme’s success, the CPL intends to make health screening an integral part of the tournament’s annual calendar, reinforcing the league’s commitment to the communities that host it and its role as the Caribbean’s premier sporting event.
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