Strengthening health systems and building regional capacity
A strategic partnership between PAHO and UWI to enhance the Caribbean health workforce
For over 75 years, The University of West Indies (UWI) has been a cornerstone of higher education, research, and leadership development across the Caribbean. With campuses in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda, UWI serves 16 English-speaking countries and territories, standing as the largest and oldest fully regional institution of higher learning in the Commonwealth Caribbean.
Ranked among the top universities globally, UWI is recognized for its academic excellence, innovation, and academic rigor. Its mission centers on advancing learning, creating knowledge, and fostering innovation to produce critical thinkers and leaders who can address the Caribbean’s most pressing challenges.
The University’s longstanding collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reflects a shared commitment to strengthening health systems and building regional capacity. Over the years, this has evolved into a multifaceted partnership with several campuses, spanning key areas of public health from laboratory strengthening, disease surveillance, and mental health to climate resilience and health systems leadership.
A growing partnership with PAHO to provide innovative training for a stronger health workforce
In response to the region’s growing need for skilled health professionals, UWI and PAHO work jointly to strengthen health workforce capacity. Grounded in a shared commitment to regional leadership and academic excellence, the partnership is expanding access to training for health professionals through new e-learning opportunities and deeper engagement across UWI campuses.
Through this collaboration, in 2021, UWI and PAHO launched a postgraduate diploma and certificate in health policy and health systems at the UWI Cave Hill Campus. This hybrid program combines online learning with a practicum at the PAHO Barbados office, offering Caribbean health professionals a unique opportunity to strengthen their leadership and policy-making skills. The initiative also fosters stronger ties between academia and ministries of health, ensuring that training is aligned with local health needs and priorities. The first cohort completed the program in 2024, and the initiative continues to grow.
UWI’s impact as a PAHO/WHO collaborating center has expanded beyond academic programs over the years. The Schools of Nursing at the Mona campus (Jamaica) and St. Augustine campus (Trinidad and Tobago), as well as the health economics unit in St. Augustine, have also been officially designated as PAHO/WHO collaborating centers. These institutions contribute to regional capacity building by supporting training, research, and technical cooperation in key areas such as nursing education, health economics, and health systems strengthening.
At the Mona campus, UWI has collaborated with PAHO to adapt WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) training materials to the Caribbean context. This ensures that primary care providers are equipped to identify and manage mental health conditions in culturally relevant ways.
Recognizing the urgent need to address the health impacts of climate change, UWI has also partnered with PAHO and the European Union (EU) through the EU/CARIFORUM grant to implement the Climate Change and Health Leaders Fellowship Program. As one of the implementing partners, UWI plays a central role in this blended learning initiative, training professionals to lead national projects and promote climate-resilient health systems.
With its deep regional presence, technical excellence, and unwavering commitment to public service, UWI stands out as a unique and strategic PAHO partner. Its ability to translate academic knowledge into practical solutions—through research, training, and collaboration—makes it a vital ally in advancing health equity and resilience in the Caribbean. With a shared vision and a strong foundation of trust, the UWI–PAHO partnership continues to evolve, creating new opportunities to strengthen health systems and prepare the region’s public health workforce for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
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