Innovative health professional leadership for a climate-resilient Bahamas

Philippe, Calae D.; Hamilton, William M.; Penn, Alvonee C.; Shultz, James M.

doi:10.1016/j.joclim.2021.100055

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Social participation and the mobilization of civil society and communities to promote communication and action are considered as important for the policy development phase of the EEPHF [ 21 ]. There is also evidence that public health in the Caribbean should be more proactive, provide leadership on climate change and health, and be involved in policy development about climate change [ 49 ]. There is also strong evidence that health professionals are key stakeholders who should be involved in health policy development [ 50 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Climate change adaptation requires political commitment, clear institutional frameworks and policies, and adequate funding [ 1 ], as well as overall institutional capacity building [ 9 ] as essential prerequisites for adaptation to climate change with the support of high-income countries [ 54 ]. In the Caribbean, there is a need to strengthen public health leadership [ 44 ], especially in climate action [ 49 ]. Therefore, public health should be a key actor to contribute to the design and operationalization of adaptation and transformative resilience to climate change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“I think they should give primary health care a little more priority”. The primary health care in Caribbean SIDS: what can be said about adaptation to the changing climate? The case of Dominica— a qualitative study

Harris-Glenville,

Cloos

2024

BMC Prim. Care

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Background Adaptation to climate change (CC) is a priority for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean, as these countries and territories are particularly vulnerable to climate-related events. Primary health care (PHC) is an important contributor to CC adaptation. However, knowledge on how PHC is prepared for CC in Caribbean SIDS is very limited. The aim of this paper is to discuss health system adaptation to climate change, with a focus on PHC. Methods We explored the perspectives of PHC professionals in Dominica on PHC adaptation to climate change. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in each of the seven health districts in Dominica, a Caribbean SIDS, between November 2021 and January 2022. The semi-structured interview guide was based on the Essential Public Health Functions: assessment, access to health care services, policy development and resource allocation. Data coding was organized accordingly. Results Findings suggest that health care providers perceive climate change as contributing to an increase in NCDs and mental health problems. Climate-related events create barriers to care and exacerbate the chronic deficiencies within the health system, especially in the absence of high-level policy support. Healthcare providers need to take a holistic view of health and act accordingly in terms of disease prevention and health promotion, epidemiological surveillance, and ensuring the widest possible access to healthcare, with a particular focus on the environmental and social determinants of vulnerability. Conclusion The primary health care system is a key stakeholder in the design and operationalization of adaptation and transformative resilience. The Essential Public Health Functions should integrate social and climate and other environmental determinants of health to guide primary care activities to protect the health of communities. This study highlights the need for improved research on the linkages between climate events and health outcomes, surveillance, and development of plans informed by contextual knowledge in the SIDS.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I think they should give primary health care a little more priority”. The primary health care in Caribbean SIDS: what can be said about adaptation to the changing climate? The case of Dominica— a qualitative study

Harris-Glenville,

Cloos

2024

BMC Prim. Care

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“…Climate change adaptation requires political commitment, clear institutional frameworks and policies, and adequate funding (1), and overall institutional capacity building (38) as essential prerequisite for adaptation to climate change with support from high-income countries (54). In the Caribbean islands there is a need to strengthen public health leadership (44), especially in climate action (35,55). Therefore, public health should be a key actor to contribute to the design and operationalization of adaptation and transformative resilience to climate change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there is no section on public health and the health system in Dominica. There is also evidence that public health in the Caribbean should be more proactive, provide leadership on climate change and health, and be involved in policy development about climate change (35,49). There is also strong evidence that health professionals are key stakeholders who should be involved in health policy development (50).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

I think they should give primary health care a little more priority. The Primary Health Care in Caribbean SIDS: What can be said about adaptation to the changing climate? The case of Dominica. A qualitative study

Harris-Glenville

Cloos

2023

Preprint

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Background Climate change (CC) adaptation is considered a priority for Caribbean Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), as these territories and communities are considered particularly vulnerable to climate-related events. The primary health care (PHC) system is an important actor in contributing to climate change adaptation. However, knowledge on how PHC is prepared for CC in Caribbean SIDS is very limited. The objective of this paper is to discuss health adaptation to climate change focusing on the PHC system. Methods We explored the perspectives of PHC professionals in Dominica on climate change. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in each of the seven health districts in Dominica, a Caribbean SIDS, between November 2021 and January 2022. The semi-structured interview guide was based on the Essential Public Health Functions: assessment, access to health care services, policy development and resource allocation. Data coding was organized accordingly. Results Findings suggest that health care providers perceive climate change as contributing to an increase in NCDs and mental health problems. Climate-related events create barriers to care and exacerbate the chronic deficiencies within the health system, especially in the absence of high-level policy support. Healthcare providers need to take a holistic view of health and act accordingly in terms of disease prevention and health promotion, epidemiological surveillance, and ensuring the widest possible access to health care, with a particular focus on the ecological and social determinants of vulnerability. Conclusion The Primary Health Care system should be a key actor in designing and operationalizing adaptation and transformative resilience. The Essential Public Health Functions should integrate social and climate and ecological determinants of health to guide primary care activities to protect the health of communities. This indicates a need for improved research on the linkages between climate events and health outcomes, surveillance, and development of plans that are guided by contextual knowledge in the SIDS.

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“…The effects of climate change are already harming health in the Caribbean region and impacts will only intensify in the coming years ( 1 ). Within the region, heat waves, hurricanes and rainstorms are becoming more deadly ( 2 ), disease outbreaks last longer and are seen in new regions ( 3 – 6 ), wildfire smoke and Saharan dust reduces air quality ( 7 , 8 ), and food and water security are threatened by extreme weather and floods ( 9 ). The Caribbean community of nations, all classified as Small Island Developing States (SIDS), will face escalating risks with the changing climate, placing the provision of health care and the prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases in jeopardy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate and health capacity building for health professionals in the Caribbean: A pilot course

Sorensen

Hamacher

Campbell

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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Climate change is a reality in the Caribbean and its effects are already harming health, yet the health workforce capacity to implement climate mitigation and adaptation measures is lacking. From March-May of 2022, a free, live-virtual, evidence and competency based 10-week climate and health course targeted toward health risks in the Caribbean was deployed to: (1) increase communication about climate and health, (2) equip health professionals with knowledge and skills that could be readily incorporated into practice, and (3) engage health professionals with climate and health initiatives within their communities. Participants in this course came from 37 countries, 10 different health-related fields, and five different general places of work. Longitudinal surveys revealed significant changes in health professional communication, engagement and application of climate and health knowledge and skills. Live-virtual, evidence and competency-based courses, regional-specific courses have the potential to change health professional behaviors toward addressing climate impacts on health.

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Innovative health professional leadership for a climate-resilient Bahamas

Cited by 5 publications

References 3 publications

“I think they should give primary health care a little more priority”. The primary health care in Caribbean SIDS: what can be said about adaptation to the changing climate? The case of Dominica— a qualitative study

“I think they should give primary health care a little more priority”. The primary health care in Caribbean SIDS: what can be said about adaptation to the changing climate? The case of Dominica— a qualitative study

I think they should give primary health care a little more priority. The Primary Health Care in Caribbean SIDS: What can be said about adaptation to the changing climate? The case of Dominica. A qualitative study

Climate and health capacity building for health professionals in the Caribbean: A pilot course

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