REPUBLIC BANK CPL DELIVERS LARGEST REGION WIDE FREE HEALTH SCREENING PROGRAMME
A total of 5,555 people were screened for non-communicable diseases during the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), after the tournament’s free health testing programme was delivered at all eight host venues across the region.
Working alongside 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 initiative is the largest programme of its kind in the Caribbean.
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 the success of this year’s programme, the CPL intends for health screening to become an integral part of the tournament’s annual calendar, reflecting the league’s continued commitment to the communities that host it and its role as the premier sporting event in the Caribbean.
