Nassau, Bahamas, – The Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization (PAHO-WHO) donated 11 tablets to the Over-the-Hill Community Development Partnership Initiative of Office of the Prime Minister to facilitate hybrid learning at the Centreville Overtown Community Center.
PAHO-WHO’s collaboration with the Over-the Hill Community Development Partnership Initiative commenced in 2018. PAHO co-facilitated a multi-stakeholder workshop that identified challenges and recommendations for improving the health-related outcomes of the Bain and Grants Town and Centerville communities. Themes addressed during the workshop included water, sanitation and hygiene, food security and nutrition, youth empowerment, violence prevention, climate resilience and environmental health. Since then, the PAHO Country Office has conducted several community-based initiatives addressing issues of gender-based violence against women and children, and the health- related rights of children as per the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. This most recent initiative of the donation of tablets seeks to eliminate disparities in education for children in vulnerable situations (UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.5)
As the current COVID19 protocols require a hybrid of in-person and virtual learning, the tablets will be used to advance the goal of high-quality education that is essential for the improvement of health and health equity.
Mr. Randy Hanna, President of Centreville Overtown Neigbourhood Watch Advancement Association, expressed his gratitude for the tablets and highlighted the importance of addressing the social and educational needs the impact the health and wellbeing of children in the communities.
Executive Manager of the Over the Hill Community Development Partnership Initiative, Mrs. Samita Ferguson, thanked PAHO-WHO for the contribution and encouraged attendees to take advantage of the opportunity that has been made available to them through the partnership.
Dr. Eldonna Boisson, PAHO-WHO Country Representative for The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, brought brief remarks. Dr. Boisson further stated that PAHO-WHO looks forward to the continued collaborative efforts with the Over-the-Hill Community Development Partnership Initiative in the future.
