Course Title: The Health Effects of Climate Change for Caribbean Health Professionals
Course Description: This course offers Caribbean health professionals an in-depth understanding of the health implications of climate change, emphasizing practical knowledge and regional specifics. The flexible online format is designed to fit into the busy schedules of medical practitioners. The focus of this module 2 is for the health care professional. It can be offered to other who has completed module 1 and want to build awareness as to the mode of practice that can be adopted by the health professional to deal with the changing climate patterns.
Course Format: Online, self-paced with optional live Q&A sessions, post and wiki.
Duration: 8 weeks (3-4 hours per week)
The Caribbean health professionals Course on Climate Change.
Week 1: Introduction to Climate Change and Health
- Total Units: 3
- Unit 1: Climate Change Basics
- Lesson: Understanding the Global Climate System
- Lesson: Greenhouse Gases and Their Effects
- Unit 2: Connecting Climate and Health
- Lesson: Direct and Indirect Health Impacts of Climate Change
- Unit 3: Overview of Global Health Effects
- Lesson: Case Studies on Climate-Related Health Issues Worldwide
- Unit 1: Climate Change Basics
Week 2: Climate Change in the Caribbean
- Total Units: 3
- Unit 1: Regional Climate Features
- Lesson: Unique Weather Patterns of the Caribbean
- Unit 2: Effects of Climate on Health in the Caribbean
- Lesson: Sea-Level Rise and Its Health Implications
- Lesson: Hurricane Impacts on Public Health
- Unit 3: Case Studies
- Lesson: Analysis of Recent Climate Events and Health Outcomes
- Unit 1: Regional Climate Features
Week 3: Vector-Borne Diseases and Climate Change
- Total Units: 3
- Unit 1: Disease Patterns and Climate Change
- Lesson: Mapping Changes in Disease Vectors
- Unit 2: Surveillance Techniques
- Lesson: Modern Surveillance Technologies
- Lesson: Community-Based Surveillance Systems
- Unit 3: Outbreak Response
- Lesson: Effective Response Strategies to Vector-Borne Disease Outbreaks
- Unit 1: Disease Patterns and Climate Change
Week 4: Water Quality and Climate Change
- Total Units: 3
- Unit 1: Impact on Water Resources
- Lesson: Climate Change and Freshwater Availability
- Unit 2: Water-Borne Diseases
- Lesson: Identifying and Addressing Emerging Risks
- Unit 3: Adaptive Strategies
- Lesson: Safe Water Practices and Technologies
- Unit 1: Impact on Water Resources
Week 5: Nutrition, Food Security, and Climate Change
- Total Units: 3
- Unit 1: Agricultural Impacts
- Lesson: Climate Effects on Crop Yields
- Unit 2: Nutritional Impacts
- Lesson: Effects on Food Quality and Nutrient Content
- Unit 3: Food Security
- Lesson: Strategies for Enhancing Climate Resilience in Agriculture
- Unit 1: Agricultural Impacts
Week 6: Mental Health and Disaster Response
- Total Units: 3
- Unit 1: Psychological Impacts
- Lesson: Mental Health After Climate-Related Disasters
- Unit 2: Community Resilience
- Lesson: Building Psychological Resilience in Communities
- Unit 3: Support Networks
- Lesson: Developing and Sustaining Mental Health Support Systems
- Unit 4: Indirect challenges and threats due to Climate Change in the health sector.
- Lesson: Indirect physical damages that may not be directly related to climate change.
- Unit 1: Psychological Impacts
Week 7: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
- Total Units: 3
- Unit 1: Role of Health Professionals
- Lesson: How Health Professionals Can Lead Climate Action
- Unit 2: Policy Engagement
- Lesson: Engaging with Policy to Advocate for Climate-Resilient Health Systems
- Unit 3: Community Action
- Lesson: Designing Community-Centric Adaptation Strategies
- Unit 1: Role of Health Professionals
Week 8: Capstone Project and Review
- Total Units: 3
- Unit 1: Developing Action Plans
- Lesson: Frameworks for Creating Effective Climate Action Plans
- Unit 2: Peer Review
- Lesson: Techniques for Constructive Peer Feedback
- Unit 3: Reflection and Future Directions
- Lesson: Reflecting on Learning and Planning Future Actions
- Unit 1: Developing Action Plans
Assessment Methods:
- Weekly quizzes
- Peer-reviewed assignments
- Final capstone project
- Post on wiki board or chat group participation.
Supplementary Materials:
- Optional readings for deeper exploration
- Recorded interviews with experts
- Infographics summarizing key points
Certification:
- Certificate of completion, potential endorsement by local health authorities, and CME credits.
This enhanced syllabus aims to engage health professionals by directly connecting each module’s content with real-world applications and regional specifics, making it relevant and actionable.
