News Releases

Historic Health Systems Research and Development Centre launched at UWI

For Release Upon Receipt - September 14, 2018

St. Augustine


The UWI St Augustine Campus launched the Caribbean Centre for Health Systems Research and Development (CCHSRD) today, Friday 14 September 2018. The Centre’s existence marks a historic move by the St. Augustine Campus to invest resources and expertise in filling a gap in the area of development research and policy around public health issues and challenges. According to Professor Donald Simeon, who will lead the Centre, the launch is the culmination of about two years of planning and collaboration between many players in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean region and some key agencies in the international health area.

The dire need for a Centre with such a focus was highlighted by the feature speaker at the event, Chancellor Emeritus Sir George Alleyne. He spoke about the lack of research in the Caribbean in the area of Public Health; and that the University is a prime incubator of research that goes beyond the more commonly occurring areas of biomedical and clinical research in the medical field. Sir George, currently Director Emeritus of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), underscored the necessity of striving for equity in health which translates to universal access to health services and to achieve this, there must be recognition of the interconnectedness of all aspects of health, including the research and policy development aspects.

UWI St. Augustine Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor Brian Copeland laid the foundation for the message of the Chancellor Emeritus. Professor Copeland noted that the Caribbean is challenged by its smallness of size and population. The region’s fragmentation also contributes to many inefficiencies in the provision of health services, making the Centre’s contribution fall in line with driving “health security” in the Caribbean. Local Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences Professor Terence Seemungal, who led the Centre’s initial planning team, complemented the support of regional representatives for the Centre, calling the process, “a confluence of ideas and people to improve health research” which they believe must be transformative.

Other speakers at the event included Acting Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health, Dr Vishwanath Partapsingh, who brought a note of congratulation on behalf of the Ministry, as well as the representative for Trinidad and Tobago at PAHO/WHO, Dr Erica Wheeler. UWI Professor of Veterinary Virology, Christopher Oura and Professor of Dental Public Health Rahul Naidu were also part of the proceedings.   

Within The UWI’s system, Centres are created as institutions of excellence in specialised areas of research. The establishment of this Centre therefore is an example of the alignment of UWI’s research agenda with the needs of Caribbean people. For further information about CCHSRD, email HealthResearch.Centre@sta.uwi.edu or call (868) 662 2002 Ext: 85415 / 85486.

End

Photo Caption

From Left: Acting Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health, Dr Vishwanath Partapsingh; Deputy Principal at The UWI St Augustine, Professor Indar Ramnarine; Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at The UWI St Augustine, Professor Terence Seemungal; Chancellor Emeritus Sir George Alleyne; The representative for Trinidad and Tobago at PAHO/WHO, Dr Erica Wheeler; Head of the Caribbean Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, Director Designate - CCHSRD, Professor Donald Simeon; and The UWI St. Augustine Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor Brian Copeland. 

About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with well over 40,000 students. Today, The UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences and Sport. The UWI’s seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. Website: www.uwi.edu

 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

Contact