The 2nd Caribbean Congress on Adolescent and Youth Health (CCAYH) is organized by a consortium of regional partners, including the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). The CCAYH, a hybrid of virtual and in-person sessions, will be held from 20-22 October 2022 in Jamaica under the theme, “Building back better: Advancing and safeguarding the health, wealth, well-being of adolescents and youth in the Caribbean”.

According to Ms Sandra Jones, Advisor HIV/STI/TB and Viral Hepatitis, Caribbean Sub-regional Office, PAHO, and a member of the planning committee, the Congress will focus on Caribbean-specific issues, challenges, and opportunities to advance the adolescent and youth health agenda at the policy and programme level. The event will also showcase successful initiatives, tools, and approaches in adolescent and youth health in the

Caribbean and beyond to address the leading causes of adolescent and youth mortality and morbidity and promote the optimal well-being of adolescents and youth in the Caribbean.

Ms Jones explained that participants will review the progress and challenges in implementing the Regional Roadmap for Action for the health and well-being of adolescents and youth in the Caribbean. They will also be engaged in identifying priority actions and strategies to accelerate progress towards improving the health and well-being of young people in the Caribbean.

Further, participants will be tasked with identifying key actions to mitigate the direct and indirect consequences of COVID-19 on young people in the Caribbean.

Ms Jones emphasized that a critical objective of the Congress is to strengthen alliances with regional and country-level partners, youth networks and youth leaders and to support comprehensive approaches toward improving the health and well-being of young people in the Region.

The Congress, which is expected to host between 200-300 participants, will be structured around the themes of COVID-19 and young people, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, HIV and STIs, and Nutrition, Physical Activity and Sports. Additional thematic areas include Youth Development, Mental Health, Substance Use, Violence and Injuries, Climate Change, and the Environment.

The event is happening two (2) years after the successful hosting of CCYAH 2019, which produced a Regional Roadmap for the health and well-being of adolescents and youth utilized by regional partners.

Image: CCYAH 2019 Participants