Building capacities in the Andean region: Training health professionals on climate change and health

Introduction: As the impacts of climate change increase, health professionals must understand its impact on disease and public health risks. Building capacity across various regions is essential for enhancing decision-making within the health sector and mitigating climate-related risks. In response,...

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Main Authors: Gilma Mantilla, Bertha Pineda, Cecilia Sorensen, Haley Campbell, Nicola Hamacher, Karen Glatfelter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:The Journal of Climate Change and Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278225000720
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author Gilma Mantilla
Bertha Pineda
Cecilia Sorensen
Haley Campbell
Nicola Hamacher
Karen Glatfelter
author_facet Gilma Mantilla
Bertha Pineda
Cecilia Sorensen
Haley Campbell
Nicola Hamacher
Karen Glatfelter
author_sort Gilma Mantilla
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: As the impacts of climate change increase, health professionals must understand its impact on disease and public health risks. Building capacity across various regions is essential for enhancing decision-making within the health sector and mitigating climate-related risks. In response, the Organismo Andino de Salud (ORAS-CONHU), the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE) and the Panamerican Health Organization (PAHO) collaborated to launch the first virtual Andean regional course on Climate and Health. Case Presentation: This five-week course featured twice-weekly 90-minute live virtual sessions, followed by Q&A. Participants were administered pre- and post-surveys to evaluate the course's effectiveness. Out of 950 registered individuals, 767 attended at least one session, and 418 attended six or more sessions.Results indicate increased capacity among health professionals to address climate resilience, including skills in vulnerability assessment, risk management, adaptation strategies, and effective communication. Discussion: This program is the first Spanish-language live virtual training targeting regional health officials from the Ministries of Health, National Institutes of Health, and international agencies involved in health promotion, disease surveillance and control, disaster management, health service provision, public health program management, and the evaluation of climate-sensitive diseases. While other institutions offer climate and health courses, these programs are primarily conducted in English and are mostly not tailored to regional challenges. Conclusion: The strong turnout of participants underscores a significant interest in this educational format and highlights the need for broader engagement in climate and health education.
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spelling doaj-art-bcec829a8e1744ecb3d39d887099e3ad2025-08-23T04:49:48ZengElsevierThe Journal of Climate Change and Health2667-27822025-09-012510055110.1016/j.joclim.2025.100551Building capacities in the Andean region: Training health professionals on climate change and healthGilma Mantilla0Bertha Pineda1Cecilia Sorensen2Haley Campbell3Nicola Hamacher4Karen Glatfelter5Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, NY, United States; Corresponding author.Organismo Andino de Salud, Convenio Hipólito Unanue, Lima, , PerúGlobal Consortium on Climate and Health Education, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, NY, United StatesGlobal Consortium on Climate and Health Education, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, NY, United StatesGlobal Consortium on Climate and Health Education, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, NY, United StatesLawrence General Hospital, MA, United StatesIntroduction: As the impacts of climate change increase, health professionals must understand its impact on disease and public health risks. Building capacity across various regions is essential for enhancing decision-making within the health sector and mitigating climate-related risks. In response, the Organismo Andino de Salud (ORAS-CONHU), the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE) and the Panamerican Health Organization (PAHO) collaborated to launch the first virtual Andean regional course on Climate and Health. Case Presentation: This five-week course featured twice-weekly 90-minute live virtual sessions, followed by Q&A. Participants were administered pre- and post-surveys to evaluate the course's effectiveness. Out of 950 registered individuals, 767 attended at least one session, and 418 attended six or more sessions.Results indicate increased capacity among health professionals to address climate resilience, including skills in vulnerability assessment, risk management, adaptation strategies, and effective communication. Discussion: This program is the first Spanish-language live virtual training targeting regional health officials from the Ministries of Health, National Institutes of Health, and international agencies involved in health promotion, disease surveillance and control, disaster management, health service provision, public health program management, and the evaluation of climate-sensitive diseases. While other institutions offer climate and health courses, these programs are primarily conducted in English and are mostly not tailored to regional challenges. Conclusion: The strong turnout of participants underscores a significant interest in this educational format and highlights the need for broader engagement in climate and health education.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278225000720Capacity buildingClimate and health educationHealth professionalsAndean regionTrainingSpanish-speaking
spellingShingle Gilma Mantilla
Bertha Pineda
Cecilia Sorensen
Haley Campbell
Nicola Hamacher
Karen Glatfelter
Building capacities in the Andean region: Training health professionals on climate change and health
The Journal of Climate Change and Health
Capacity building
Climate and health education
Health professionals
Andean region
Training
Spanish-speaking
title Building capacities in the Andean region: Training health professionals on climate change and health
title_full Building capacities in the Andean region: Training health professionals on climate change and health
title_fullStr Building capacities in the Andean region: Training health professionals on climate change and health
title_full_unstemmed Building capacities in the Andean region: Training health professionals on climate change and health
title_short Building capacities in the Andean region: Training health professionals on climate change and health
title_sort building capacities in the andean region training health professionals on climate change and health
topic Capacity building
Climate and health education
Health professionals
Andean region
Training
Spanish-speaking
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278225000720
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