During the days of November 9, 10 and 11, the IV Meeting of the Central American and Caribbean Network of Health Promoting Universities -REDCCUPS- is taking place with the purpose of generating a space for cooperation, exchange of experiences and knowledge to promote the Health Promoting Universities movement among the higher education institutions of the Central American Higher University Council -CSUCA-.
To open the meeting, Ayax Irías, Vice-Rector of Student Affairs and Guidance at the National Autonomous University of Honduras, spoke, saying, “We hope that this event will foster and generate a rich and beneficial exchange of experiences that consolidates strategic alliances between universities and local governments, deepening the processes of intra- and inter-university integration.”.
For his part, Carlos Alvarado, Secretary General of CSUCA, stated in his address that “Through the network of health-promoting universities, institutional foundations of support and collaboration are created to become healthy universities,” referring to the collaborative work that exists at the regional level through the 24 public universities that make up CSUCA and that is generated through its various systems. Meanwhile, Jorge Cortez, President of the Regional Council for Student Life, reflected, “The issue of mental health is important; that is what we must focus on: having well-rounded students who can maintain good health for their academic development,” taking into account the crisis that the pandemic caused in the mental health of the world's population. At the same time, Piedad Huerta, PAHO representative in Honduras, commended the role that universities have played in the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, “It is important to promote health from within universities.”.
To conclude the opening remarks, Francisco Herrera, Rector of the National Autonomous University of Honduras, commented that "Prevention is not Latin America's strong suit, so the formation of these networks obliges us to prepare the university community on this issue," mentioning the importance of universities and their support in contributing to the development of Central American societies.
The Meeting is being held in a hybrid format, with in-person sessions at the National Autonomous University of Honduras, featuring 12 presentations, which cover topics such as “Student Leaders in Health: An Experience from the University of Panama”, “A Bonus in a Pandemic: Promoting Health and Self-Care in the Face of the COVID-19 Health Crisis”, “Empathy and Synergy: Pillars in the Training of Student Leaders in Health”, “Back Again! Experience of the Costa Rican Network of Health Promoting Universities, Post-COVID-19 Pandemic”, among others.
This meeting seeks to establish the National Networks of Health Promoting Universities, the integration, implementation and execution of a Regional Action Plan, as well as to promote research in the health promotion component in the universities that make up the REDCCUPS and the National Networks of Health Promoting Universities of the CSUCA.
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