IV REDCUPS

On November 9, 10 and 11, the IV Meeting of the Central American and Caribbean Network of Health-Promoting Universities -REDCCUPS- will be held with the purpose of generating a space for cooperation, exchange of experiences and knowledge to promote the movement of Health Promoting Universities among the higher education institutions of the Consejo Superior Universitario Centroamericano -CSUCA-.

To open the meeting, remarks were made by Ayax Irías, Vice Chancellor of Orientation and Student Affairs of the National Autonomous University of Honduras, who expressed, ?We hope that this event promotes and generates a rich and fruitful exchange of experiences that consolidates strategic alliances from universities with local governments, deepening the processes of intra- and inter-university integration?.

For his part, Carlos Alvarado, Secretary General of CSUCA, in his speech, made reference to the fact that ?Through the network of health-promoting universities, institutional bases of support and collaboration are created to become healthy universities,? in reference to collaborative work that exists at the regional level through the 24 public universities that make up the CSUCA and that is generated through the different systems. While Jorge Cortez, President of the Regional Council for Student Life, reflected ?The issue of mental health is important, that is what we must guide, to have well-rounded students who can have good health for academic development,? taking into account the crisis that caused the pandemic in the mental health of the population of the entire world. At the same time, Piedad Huerta, PAHO representative in Honduras, congratulated the role that universities have had in the development of the pandemic caused by COVID-19. Is this precept important to promote health? from the universities?

To end the opening remarks, Francisco Herrera, Rector of the National Autonomous University of Honduras commented that ?Prevention is not Latin America's forte, so the formation of these networks forces us to prepare the university community on this issue? , mentioning the importance that exists from the universities and their support for the contribution of the development of Central American societies.

The Meeting is held in a hybrid mode, with the presence based at the National Autonomous University of Honduras, with 12 presentations, in which topics such as ?Student leaders in health: An experience of 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! Experience of the Costa Rican Network of Health-Promoting Universities, post-COVID-19 pandemic?, among others.

Through this meeting, the formation of the National Networks of Health Promoting Universities is sought, the integration, implementation and execution of a Regional Action Plan, as well as promoting research in the component of health promotion in universities. that make up the REDCCUPS and National Networks of Health Promoting Universities of the CSUCA.