April 8, 2024 | CCCCC Press Release 006
Belmopan, April 8, 2024 – The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Pan America Health Organisation (PAHO), the European Union (EU), and the Belmopan City Council successfully hosted a walk under the theme “My Climate, My Health, My Right!”.
The walk was held in recognition of World Health Day celebrated on April 7 and served as a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness between climate and health, emphasizing the fundamental right of every individual to a healthy environment. It provided a platform for engaging participants, promoting eco-friendly practices, and inspiring collective action to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on public health.
Dr. Karen Lewis- Bell, PAHO/WHO Representative for Belize shared “World Health Day has been observed since 1950 to increase public awareness about the importance of health as a human right. Each year a specific theme is chosen to bring awareness to various aspects or programmatic areas in health of major relevance at the time. This year’s theme ‘My Health, My Right” emphasizes that health is a fundamental human right. Various environmental factors including the effects of climate change are negatively impacting health and now is the time to address these issues.”
Participants gathered at the Governor General Field, North Ring Road from 5:30 am to demonstrate their commitment to addressing these critical issues. Mr. Christoper Enriquez,
Councilor with responsibility for Fitness and Nutrition at the Belmopan City Council expressed “We recognize the significant impact of climate change on public health and advocate for initiatives that promote sustainable practices to mitigate environmental degradation. By fostering a more sustainable environment, we not only protect our Garden City but also safeguard the health and well-being of our community.
This initiative is one activity from the implementation of the European Union funded “Strengthening Climate Resilient Health Systems in the Caribbean Project”, launched in 2020. The project acknowledges the indisputable effects of Climate Change on Public Health. Through a collaborative effort between the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), the European Union (EU), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), this project advocates for resilience-building solutions within the healthcare sector of Caribbean nations and prioritizes sustainable measures that positively impact environmental health and human well-being. The CCCCC plays a significant role aiding countries with crafting six concept notes which will be informed by the Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAPS) developed under the project.
Speaking to the crowd of over one hundred and fifty participants, Ms. Diane Wade-Moore, Head of the Project Development and Management Unit, CCCCC said “Today’s climate crisis is rapidly becoming tomorrow’s health emergency,” Wade-Moore added that the walk is symbolic of the need to take responsibility and act decisively to safeguard one’s climate, health and right.
Ms. Lizette Bell, Deputy Director of Nursing Services and Chief Nursing Officer from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, reiterated the theme “My Climate, My Health, My Right!” by emphasizing that health is a fundamental human right. She stated, “The point of the theme this year is to include everyone and leave no one behind. Making services available to everyone, everywhere and when they need it most, reducing financial and all barriers to access.”
The success of the walk underscores the critical importance of multistakeholder collaboration in addressing complex challenges that intersect environmental sustainability and public health. Additionally, it serves as a powerful testament to the effectiveness of unified efforts in promoting awareness, fostering community engagement, and driving meaningful change.
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to pioneering innovative solutions, fostering collaboration across sectors, and empowering communities to build resilience in the face of climate change.
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The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre is an inter-governmental Caribbean Community (CARICOM) institution that is mandated by the CARICOM Heads of Government to coordinate the Region’s response to climate change. We maintain the Caribbean’s most extensive repository of information and data on climate change specific to the region, which in part enables us to provide climate change-related policy advice and guidelines to CARICOM Member States. In this role, the Centre is recognized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Environment Programme, and other international agencies as the focal point for climate change issues in the Caribbean. The Centre is also one of the few institutions recognized as a Centre of Excellence by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. CCCCC is empowering the Caribbean Community to act on climate change.
