Building capacity of healthcare professionals and community members to address climate and health threats in The Bahamas: Analysis of a green climate fund pilot workshop

Climate change is a preeminent threat to health and health systems in The Bahamas. Climate and health resilience depends upon a knowledgeable and coordinated healthcare system and workforce that is highly connected and coordinated with a knowledgeable and empowered community. We present the methodology and results of a novel educational workshop, designed to increase the knowledge and awareness of health care professionals and community members with the goal of empowering them to engage in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Following the training, participants demonstrated increased knowledge of the causes of climate change, health exposures, climate-sensitive diseases, and vulnerable populations relevant to The Bahamas. Further, participants reported high levels of willingness and readiness to tackle climate change and its health consequences. Results from this workshop suggest that such a model may serve as a guide for building grass-roots resilience in communities worldwide.

Climate and health capacity building for health professionals in the Caribbean: A pilot course

Climate change is a reality in the Caribbean and its effects are already harming health, yet the health workforce capacity to implement climate mitigation and adaptation measures is lacking. From March-May of 2022, a free, live-virtual, evidence and competency based 10-week climate and health course targeted toward health risks in the Caribbean was deployed to: (1) increase communication about climate and health, (2) equip health professionals with knowledge and skills that could be readily incorporated into practice, and (3) engage health professionals with climate and health initiatives within their communities. Participants in this course came from 37 countries, 10 different health-related fields, and five different general places of work. Longitudinal surveys revealed significant changes in health professional communication, engagement and application of climate and health knowledge and skills. Live-virtual, evidence and competency-based courses, regional-specific courses have the potential to change health professional behaviors toward addressing climate impacts on health.

Detection of Glu-Glu-tagged proteins in mammalian cell culture media by dot immunoblotting

A dot immunoblotting technique has been developed to estimate the relative expression levels of tagged recombinant human proteins in mammalian cell culture media. Variations in sample denaturation, blocking agents and membrane composition and treatment were used to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio of the defined procedure. The method is rapid, with sensitivity extending to the low nanomolar range for a number of recombinant proteins. This technique should have general utility for antibody-based measurements of other tagged and non-tagged proteins in cell culture media or in biological fluids.