Caribbean Network in Human Movement and Health
Description of the network
The Caribbean Network in Human Movement and Health is an integration of applied research efforts in human movement and health-related areas among universities of the English-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The extent to which these research efforts are pertinent, impactful, and systematic is equally contingent on the input (including recommendations, approvals, and feedback) of governmental and non-governmental stakeholders from various institutions across the region. To this end, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education are the main government entities considered along with public health agencies and associations, research, and civil society networks whose operations and expertise can lend bolster research efforts in human movement and health in the region.
The fundamental focus of this collaborative initiative is to create sustainable development models, in which advocacy, prevention, and training are incorporated, and used to encourage daily physical activity and healthy lifestyle practices among children and adolescents in the school environment.
The Network serves to strengthen academic cooperation in the Caribbean through the exchange and utilization of scientific and technical knowledge and expertise, validated methodologies and best practices, while providing a space where human movement and health in children and adolescents are promoted, and existing challenges and issues relating to school health are concurrently and aptly addressed at the regional level.
Mission:
To promote, direct, execute and disseminate research on human movement and health, in order to support decision-making and the formulation of policies, strategies, and interventions in the English-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Vision:
To be a reputable source of highly scientific information in the areas of human movement and health in the Caribbean region, while actively striving toward promoting and sustaining children and adolescents on the move through effective school and community – based interventions.
Scopes:
- Adapt and develop models of intervention in human movement and health that conform to regional reality and can be adopted within existing educational, health and social systems
- Formulate a multi- and interdisciplinary team that investigates different models of intervention in human movement and health, using validated methodologies
- Develop and execute pilot research programs in regional educational settings
- Develop different mechanisms to disseminate research findings that result from the work of the Network (website, newsletters, magazines, congresses, seminars, and courses)
- Contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the area of human movement and health through peer-reviewed publications
- Generate resources to create a fund for research in human movement and health among children and adolescents
- Encourage effective collaboration among academic institutes, government, and non-government agencies through knowledge and data sharing in order to promote human movement and health among children and adolescents, and successfully address country-specific and region-wide challenges.
Network director: Dr. Anisa Ramcharitar-Bourne, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago.
Network co-ordinator: MSc. Gabriella Alphonso, Project assistant, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago.
Project assistant: Dr. Dahiana Quesada, Committee and Project Assistant, ILSI Mesoamerica.
Contact: If you want to know more about the project, you can do it through:
MSc.Gabriella Alphonso
Email: caribbeanresearchnetwork@ilsimesoamerica.org
