Today, we are delighted to turn the spotlight back on our intern, Sarah Savage. Sarah has been with us for the past 8 weeks for her summer internship as part of her International Applied Practice Experience (Practicum) for her MPH in Global Health Practice at the University of South Florida.
In her blog, Sarah reflects on her time with us, the projects she focused on and the public health lessons she has learnt.
As my time in Saint Kitts comes to an end, I’m so grateful for the experience to immerse myself into the country and contribute to the work of Lake Health and Wellbeing. Eight weeks have gone by very quickly, and I feel like I have learned so much in a short time!
Throughout my practicum experience, I have had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects. I developed discussion guides and interviewed key stakeholders about perceptions and practices regarding the use of assistive technology in education for students with autism. I also helped organise and coordinate local efforts for the regional Hope for the Future campaign.
With the help of Abi, youth health advocate Crannie Cranston, and other stakeholders, I assisted in the development of easy-read materials for individuals with learning disabilities and communicated with the Ministry of Health regarding a new project focused on accessibility at local health centres. In my time here, I was able to analyse practices for developing an educational platform, attend outreach events, expos, and meetings, and strengthen my advocacy and engagement skills, among many other experiences.
When I first started my practicum, I was especially excited for the Assistive Technology, Autism, and Education project. Over the last eight weeks, this continued to be my favourite. I was able to speak to key stakeholders, including individuals from the Ministry of Education, teachers, principals, parents, and more. My discussions with these individuals provided me with a comprehensive overview of community inclusion in qualitative research and gave me fundamental information about autism and education in Saint Kitts and Nevis. This project strengthened my communication skills, enhanced my qualitative data techniques, and deepened my understanding of policy and process. Each conversation provided meaningful insight that is contributing to the development of a project report that I am eager to continue working on.
Other projects I was able to devote significant time to included the Hope for the Future campaign, in which I assisted with coordinating outreach events, developing a structured guide for a regional interview, and creating presentations about the dangers of marketing to children to share with the Ministry of Health, and more. This campaign was a valuable experience that strengthened my advocacy, coordination, and communication skills, and I am eager to see how policy for children continues to evolve. Additionally, I worked on developing easy-read materials for individuals with learning disabilities. This project has taught me the importance of being thorough and comprehensive in health education, and I greatly appreciated the collaboration and review process that is a part of it.
Overall, the past eight weeks provided me with a comprehensive look into the work of public health professionals and equipped me with tools that I will continue to use as I begin my career!
Work To Be Done
Though there are many wonderful things being done for public health in Saint Kitts and Nevis, but as is the case everywhere, there is still work to be done.
From what I’ve learned, there is room for improvement when it comes to the state of assistive technology and education for children with autism, and I look forward to submitting my final report, which will include our findings and recommendations. Through Hope for the Future, I learned that the community in Saint Kitts and Nevis is deeply passionate about healthy eating and concerned about the impact that marketing of unhealthy products may have on children. While the government is taking large strides towards action, such as developing a School Nutrition Policy, as always, more progress can be made. Investing in policies that regulate or restrict the marketing of unhealthy products to children in and around schools will
prevent the influence that the persuasive marketing of these products has on children’s food and beverage choices. Greater action will improve health outcomes, hopefully contributing to a fall in the rising epidemic of childhood obesity both regionally and globally
Takeaways
I am so grateful for this experience to immerse myself into a new environment and grow as a public health professional. I gathered many takeaways while in Saint Kitts and Nevis, with a key one being the importance of patience in public health. Not everyone will immediately be willing to provide input, engage in projects, or even answer emails. Recognising that everyone operates in their own timeline is a lesson I learned in my time here.
Though it can be frustrating, periods of waiting can be productive. Using time to refine and review work allows information to be presented as effectively as possible and may be a blessing in working for change.
At the same time, persistence is equally important. Maintaining strong communication with contacts and following up when necessary is key to moving forward. This experience taught me the importance of staying organised, being proactive and being able to balance patience with persistence.
Though it would be ideal for change to happen quickly, many public health initiatives require large shifts that take time. These changes do not happen overnight, and it’s important to remain resilient through setbacks! Asking for new policy or influencing the way that society views issues are monumental changes, and every step towards them, such as developing reports or advocating for policy, helps!
Here Vs America
Working on a small island wasn’t far different from working in America. While there is a more laid-back pace of life here, there are still people everywhere who are passionate about improving health outcomes for all.
Because Saint Kitts and Nevis is a smaller country, the work I was able to experience felt very tangible, and I could see how efforts may contribute to meaningful change. Though, as aforementioned, progress takes time, working on projects that may build upon the great foundation developed here made me feel like I was impacting true change. The autism and assistive technology project requires broad societal and infrastructure change, which requires long-term commitment. Similarly, Hope for the Future focuses on policy development to protect children, also requiring long-term commitment and sustained effort. I’ve learned that it’s important that public health professionals continue to advocate for the causes and health outcomes that they care about, keeping key stakeholders engaged and driving steps forward in change every day.
Final Reflections
I want to sincerely thank Abi for the opportunity to intern here and the ongoing support throughout this experience. Allowing me to sit in on meetings, develop materials, etc. etc. was an integral part of my practicum and was more than I even expected. Although I’m sad to leave, I look forward to staying connected and continuing my work remotely for the remainder of the summer. I will truly miss Saint Kitts and the people here!
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