More Programs in Latin America

The programs listed here illustrate the diversity of global health work being done across the UNC campus in different Latin American countries. It is not comprehensive. To find additional faculty experts and programs, consult the Faculty International Expertise Database.

Population, Health, and Environment in the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands of Ecuador are in crisis. In 2007 UNESCO declared the Galapagos Archipelago an endangered World Heritage Site and the Ecuadorian Government declared an “ecological emergency” for the islands.

In response to this crisis, UNC has established the interdisciplinary Isabela Center for Galapagos Studies. The primary goal of the Isabela Center is to shape the social and ecological sustainability of the Galapagos Islands, understand the complex nature of global interconnections, and develop education and knowledge transfer programs that benefit UNC and the global community.

To address the many health challenges facing the Galapagos Islands−water and sanitation, diarrheal diseases, dengue fever, HIV−researchers from UNC and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador have developed a strategy to build a long-term Galapagos Demographic Surveillance System (GDSS) that is capable of tracking the influence of people on the social and ecological systems in the Galapagos Islands. Research projects on various health problems would then utilize data from the GDSS.

Contact: Stephen Walsh

MOCHE Service-Learning Project

The MOCHE Service-Learning Project involves community development projects in Ciudad de Dios in the Moche Valley of Peru. When UNC archeologists faced problems with looting of archaeological sites and rural poverty in the area, they came up with a simple idea: for each year the site was not looted or damaged, the city would receive $1200 for a development project of their choosing. At that time, Ciudad de Dios still had not been recognized by the local government and lacked even the most basic services. Since the program began, looting has effectively stopped at Ciudad de Dios, and a number of community-defined development projects have been completed.

MOCHE also runs the MOCHE-UNC Archeological Field School summer program for UNC students.

Most recently, MOCHE partnered with the UNC chapters of Engineers Without Borders and Nourish International to build a new water system for the community. Safe drinking water is fundamental to the health of any community.

Contact: Brian Billman

MEASURE Evaluation

USAID’s MEASURE Evaluation, administered through the Carolina Population Center, works around the world to help countries address health and population issues.

The MEASURE Evaluation partnership provides technical leadership through collaboration at local, national, and global levels to build the sustainable capacity of individuals and organizations to identify data needs, collect and analyze technically sound data, and use that data for health decision-making.

UNC faculty are engaged in MEASURE-sponsored projects throughout Latin America, including Costa Rica, Jamaica, Brazil, and Mexico. Projects address issues such as contraception, HIV prevention, and data collection and evaluation.

Contact: MEASURE Web site

Bahia-Carolina Program in Environmental and Occupational Health

This program formally establishes ongoing collaborations between the faculty of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA).

The UFBA is located in the city of Salvador in the Bahia region of Brazil. The two institutions have agreed to engage in cooperative educational and research activities for the mutual benefit of both institutions, with a focus on environmental
and occupational health.

Under the agreement, UNC and UFBA develop cooperative educational and research programs for faculty,
students, and staff. Student and faculty exchanges (including study abroad) and the development and implementation of collaborative research programs, seminars and training workshops, conferences, service programs are among the planned activities.

Contact: Steve Marshall

UNC School of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Business at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico Collaboration

The purpose of this program is to formally establish ongoing collaboration between the faculty of the UNC School of Pharmacy and the Graduate School of Business at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico City by developing small- and large-scale educational programs for the pharmaceutical industry in Mexico and Central and South America.

The proposed education and training, from basic pharmaceutical sciences to pharmacoeconomics to executive management/leadership content will engage UNC and Tecnológico de Monterrey faculty in teaching and lecturing to business executives and pharmaceutical scientists on-site and through distance education technologies.