From Ann Arbor to St. George's: A Public Health Initiative for Greater Disability Access in Grenada
Juan Roacho
2nd Year MPH Epidemiology Student
To state that this upcoming Public Health in Action opportunity in Grenada is overwhelming, and bittersweet would be an understatement. After spending nearly six years with the University of Michigan for my undergraduate and graduate education, I will embark on my final U-M event as a student for now, giving me much to reminisce and reflect on. As I conclude my final year in the General Epidemiology MPH program, I'm filled with both nostalgia and anticipation. The knowledge and skills I've gained throughout my two-year master’s program have laid a solid foundation for this moment, and while this endeavor marks the finale of my Michigan journey, it also represents the beginning of a new chapter where I can translate my learning into impactful public health action. Last spring, my PHAST colleagues and I had the extraordinary opportunity to travel to San Antonio, TX and collaborate with the South-Central Area Health Education Center (AHEC) to tackle asthma awareness and management, which was invaluable in shaping my understanding of community health initiatives and the importance of culturally sensitive interventions. This upcoming public health deployment will be my first hands-on approach to a global public health dilemma, as well as gain a new perspective on how improved disability access can positively impact communities at a broader level.
One of the aspects of this experience that I look forward to the most is learning more about the Grenadian government’s organizational structure, particularly how the Ministry of Social & Community Development, Housing, and Gender Affairs coordinates with other sectors to ensure disability inclusion. Considering that multiple stakeholders are involved in this project within and outside the Grenadian Government, our project goals are centered around fostering collaboration and leveraging the insights of each contributor to create a comprehensive evaluation of the current state of disability access. A second element of this experience I look forward to is managing through precedent and unprecedented challenges throughout my time in Grenada. As we navigate through these next couple of weeks preparing and putting our plan into action, I'm excited to reflect on my professional growth and development by practicing cultural humility and placing the interests of those we’re serving first before our own. I highly look forward to working with the Ministry of Social Development, Dr. Rohan Jeremiah, and my entire PHAST cohort in creating meaningful and impactful contributions to disability access in Grenada!