Public Health in the Caribbean

This book provides a comprehensive account of key public health issues in the Caribbean, with a special focus on the English-speaking countries in the region. For the first time, one single publication brings together a collection of chapters written by experts in the fields of public health, nutrition, mental health, psychology, health economics and climatology presenting in-depth information on the epidemiology, prevention, and management of key health issues in the Caribbean region.

The book covers a wide range of topics, including emerging and re-emerging diseases, lessons from natural disasters, and the epidemic of noncommunicable diseases. Additionally, it explores dietary intake patterns, mental health as a public health issue, the pervasive problem of child abuse and the impact of climate change on health. Other critical areas addressed include disease-related stigma, the public health implications of cannabis use, the importance of research and innovation in the region, and the financing of health services. Each chapter delves into a specific topic, providing a critical analysis and practical recommendations for healthcare professionals, researchers and policy makers.

Public Health in the Caribbean will be an essential reading for researchers, students, practitioners and policymakers interested in understanding public health and making a difference in the Caribbean. 

“This book should be essential reading not only for health practitioners of all stripes but also for those who are interested and involved in the welfare and well-being of the Caribbean people and the extent to which they address the existential problems they face as Small Island Developing States- climate change, pandemics and chronic non communicable diseases.” – Sir George Alleyne, former United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean

Shalini Pooransingh is a medical doctor and a senior lecturer in Public Health at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago. She trained in Public Health in the UK and and obtained her membership examinations in Public Health from the UK Faculty of Public Health. She has over 25 years’ experience working in Public Health in the UK, the World Health Organization and currently at the University of the West Indies where she is the Coordinator for the Master in Public Health programme. She was part of the response team for the 2004 South-East Asia tsunami and was working at the Western Pacific Regional Office when the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami struck. Her work at the WHO also included capacity strengthening in member states within the framework of the International Health Regulations (2005). Her interests lie in the prevention and control of communicable diseases and healthcare quality. She is a Fellow of the UK Faculty of Public Health the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Public Health Association and she has over 40 publications.

J. Peter Figueroa is a retired Professor of Public Health, Epidemiology and HIV/AIDS at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus Jamaica. He is a medical doctor with a PhD in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He led the development of the DrPH program at UWI Mona and served as its Director for 14 years. He has had several awards including the WHO award for Leadership in Global Health in 2019. He was a former Chief Medical Officer in Jamaica and has represented the country at high level meetings such as the World Health Assembly. He is a member of several high level committees, national , regional and global including the WHO Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 vaccines and the PAHO Strategic Advisory Group on vaccine preventable diseases. He has over 200 publications.

Babatunde Olowokure is a seasoned global public health expert with over 35 years of experience in health security and public health. He has held senior roles in public health organisations in Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific. He most recently served as the WHO Western Pacific Region’s Regional Emergency Director leading the COVID-19 response as well as managing a complex health security landscape including preparedness, readiness and response for health security threats such as mpox, avian influenza, dengue, and natural disasters. Previously, at the Caribbean Public Health Agency, he was the inaugural Director of the Surveillance Disease Prevention and Control Division and responsible for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. He trained in public health in the UK and is a Fellow of the UK Faculty of Public Health. Dr. Olowokure holds a degree in medicine, an MBA, a master’s degrees in Community Paediatrics, and a masters degree in Public Health, and Epidemiology. He also has a PhD in medicine, specializing in infectious disease epidemiology. Dr. Olowokure has nearly 90 peer-reviewed publications covering a diverse range of public health topics, and several book chapters to his name.