Comunidad Connect was proud to host the 5th Annual Community Health Summit in Nicaragua, February 1-8, 2020. From San Juan del Sur to Jinotega, it was an inspiring week of learning, sharing, and discussion around ongoing research and health initiatives in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
The week began in San Juan del Sur where we conducted site visits to a local clinic and school in the community of Tola, we met with community leaders and visited a sustainably constructed free high school for adults.
In the northern mountains of the country in Jinotega, the group received a coffee tour, visited with community health volunteers and previous family impact projects as well as began a home construction project for vulnerable senior named Candida. We were honored to have representatives from our academic partners in the states as well as Eliezer Lappots, the ejective director of our partner organization Health Horizons International in the Dominican Republic.
Presentations from some of the attendees included:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Findings from the Global Field (CIFAL Atlanta) -Lolade Owokoniran, MPH
Maternal and Child Health in Los Robles: 5 Years of Collaborative Research (Ohio State, Univ. Of Calgary, Univ. Of Alabama) – Jason DeCaro, PhD
Smoking and Indoor Air Pollution in Nicaragua & Dominican Republic (GA State University) – Doug Gardenhire, PhD
Social determinants of health: (Health Horizons International) – Dr. Eliezer Lappots
Brigadistas: The experience of being a health promoter using photovoice in Montellano, RD. (Kennesaw State University) – Johnathan Steppe, MSN
Comunidad Connect Health Connections Program – Jon Thompson, MSW & Enma Gutiérrez
Special thanks again to the representatives of Health Horizons International, CIFAL Atlanta, and the Universities of Georgia State, Alabama, Kennesaw State, Calgary, Ohio State, and Emory for your contributions and dedication to improving public health.