Today concluded a week of internship for 4 of the 6 Climate Change and Health Fellows comprising the first cohort in the Climate Change and Health Leaders Fellowship program. The CCCCC had the privilege of hosting Dr. Kim Newton-James, Technical Officer, Chemical and Solid Waste Management, Caribbean Public Health Agency (St. Lucia); Ms. Shanika John, Health Promotion Specialist Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment (St. Vincent and the Grenadines); Mr. Steve Daniel, Environmental Health Specialist, Ministry of Health and Wellness (Barbados) at its office in Belmopan, Belize.  Dr. Kenzy Jean-Pierre, Health and Climate Change Program Manager, Fair World Builders – NGO (Haiti) joined virtually.

Over the last few days, the Fellows met with members of staff and enjoyed presentations about the role of the Centre, and its work in helping the region to strengthen its resilience to the unabating impacts of climate change.  On the last day of the internship, the fellows shared their internship experience, presented an overview of their occupations, and their individual national projects.  Executive Director of the CCCCC, Dr Colin Young thanked the CARICOM Leaders for selecting the Centre to host them and for pursuing the internship on Climate Change and Health.

The Climate Change and Health Leaders Fellowship program, being implemented by the University of the West Indies (UWI) under the European Union-funded Strengthening Climate Resilient Health Systems in the Caribbean project, is contributing to building the skills of a cadre of strong, effective leaders from 16 Caribbean countries to empower communities, support youth engagement, and encourage Caribbean Professionals to take proactive action to address climate change and health related issues in the Caribbean.

The UWI and CCCCC are two of the region’s premier institutions collaborating to provide training and capacity building support to young Caribbean professionals in climate change and health.