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Dr Govia consults and works on initiatives that benefit from her visionary thinking and attention to detail.
Transparency and frankness are fundamental in her work with global partners on cross-country and cross-sector initiatives. She is a passionate advocate for quality care for persons living with dementia and mental illness and their care network. |
Ongoing Projects
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DAC Flagship Project
The DAC Flagship Projects focus on screening and early detection of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) as the first node for health system preparedness for AD. Jamaica is one of 7 sites selected for project implementation (others are Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Scotland, and the United States (2 locations)). A brief digital cognitive assessment is being implemented into the workflow at GP practices for persons 60 and older without a prior diagnosis of dementia. Individuals with suspected cognitive decline based on the cognitive assessment are offered a blood-based biomarker for AD in addition to customary follow-up testing. Read more at: https://www.davosalzheimerscollaborative.org/healthcare-system-preparedness
Living in Full Health (LIFE) This project focuses on extending a Caribbean- based cohort to promote US- Caribbean comparisons to facilitate research addressing black health disparities. Read more about the LIFE Project here. |
Savvy Caregiver
This work focuses on the adaptation for Jamaican end-users of a virtually delivered Savvy Caregiver Program (SCP) for caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer's Disease or Related Dementias. Researchers are being trained as facilitators for the SCP and the trainees’ feedback will be one element of the formative research. Target end-users of SCP are also being engaged about the extent to which the program met their needs and their preferences regarding structure, content, and delivery. Through cognitive interviewing, we are also exploring how potential data collection instruments may need to be adapted. These steps will help us understand the acceptability of the SCP in Jamaica and the steps needed to develop and implement a culturally-adapted version through virtual means.
CATCH The Caribbean and South America Team-based Strategy to Control Hypertension (CATCH) is motivated by the reality that hypertension disproportionately affects persons in low- and middle-income countries. Focusing on Colombia and Jamaica, this project explores the possibilities that a team-based care strategy in routine clinical settings offers for hypertension control. It is funded by the USA's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Read more at: https://uwi.edu/caihr/media/pg-nihhypertension.php |
STRiDE Jamaica
Strengthening Responses to Dementia in Developing Countries (STRiDE) is a multinational and multidisciplinary project which aimed to support the development, implementation and evaluation of national strategies on dementia care in developing countries. While the funded period facilitated by the Research Council UK’s Global Challenges Research Fund and the London School of Economics and Political Science ended in March 2022, the STRiDE Jamaica team continues its research, public awareness, advocacy, and care management consultations. Read more at: https://www.stride-dementia.org/
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Past Projects
Mindfulness in Hospitality and Tourism in LMICs
Mindfulness is a form of mental training that uses practices to bring attention to the present. Workplace mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) typically involve regular group training in mindfulness practices over a set period. This Wellcome Trust commissioned review focussed on the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for supporting younger workers in hospitality and tourism in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). CONTACT Congregations Taking Action Against NCDs (CONTACT) seeks to explore the potential benefits of positioning congregation members to help tackle Non-communicable diseases, which cause more than 60% of deaths in the Caribbean. The project involves selection and training of 'Health Advocates' who are integrated into the healthcare pathway between the community and local health centres. It was funded by the Medical Research Council (UK). Caribbean Foodscapes Caribbean Foodscapes explored historical and epidemiological transitions in urban Caribbean diet trends. Based in Kingston, Jamaica, this project explored the ways in which cities impact the food practices and future health outcomes of their populations. It was funded by the Medical Research Council - Arts and Humanities Research Council - Global Public Health Partnership Award Scheme . Read more at: https://www.ecehh.org/research/caribbean-foodscapes/ GDAR The Global Diet and Activity Research Group and Network (GDAR) was a program of research committed to preventing non-communicable diseases in low and middle income countries. The goal was to generate evidence on factors that lead to poor diet and physical inactivity, in addition to designing and evaluating interventions to change these factors. Read more at: https://www.gdarnet.org/ |