Castries, Saint Lucia, 26 April 2024, (PAHO/WHO) - As part of the Vaccination Week of the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/ WHO), in collaboration with the Saint Lucia Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs, hosted a vital Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) training session at Coco Palm Resort, Saint Lucia. This training aimed to enhance the skills of healthcare professionals in promoting vaccine uptake, particularly among marginalised communities.
The session was attended by 25 healthcare professionals who have joined nearly 135 regional healthcare workers, managers of the Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI), and key community influencers previously trained by PAHO/WHO over the past two years. This initiative is a direct response to findings from a behaviour change project in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which highlighted the urgent need for increased community engagement capabilities in healthcare providers, especially considering the high vaccine hesitancy in the post-COVID-19 pandemic environment. During his opening remarks, Dr. Glensford Joseph, Medical Officer of Health for the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs, emphasised the critical role of healthcare providers and public health workers in combating misinformation.
"As healthcare professionals, we must empower ourselves with the necessary tools to fight against the adverse impact of misinformation that can adversely affect the many gains we have had over the years," he stated.
The day-long training event was also inaugurated by opening remarks from Dr. Solange Kobi Jackson, Advisor, Health Across the Life Course at PAHO/WHO. Dr. Karen Broome Advisor, Immunization for the Caribbean Subregion at PAHO/WHO, delivered a key presentation on the current state of immunization in the subregion. The training included sessions on the role of healthcare workers as vaccine champions, effective communication strategies for promoting healthy vaccine behaviours in marginalised communities, and techniques for debunking vaccine myths and managing risks through informed conversations.
Participants are expected to apply the skills acquired from this workshop within their communities, further enhancing the uptake of vaccines and strengthening ongoing health initiatives across the region.
