Proceso de vacunación avanza con éxito en Galápagos con el apoyo de la USFQ y GSC

La campaña de vacunación masiva inició en la provincia de Galápagos a finales del mes de abril, el Ministerio de Salud Pública (MSP) y el Consejo de Gobierno del régimen especial de Galápagos (CGREG), lideran este proceso que ha recibido la invaluable colaboración de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito con el objetivo de inmunizar al 100% de la población mayor de 18 años.

El estado busca proteger a la población de las islas, reactivar la economía y motivar a los turistas nacionales y extranjeros a visitar Galápagos con seguridad. Además, una de las metas es posicionar a Galápagos como el primer archipiélago en Latinoamérica totalmente inmunizado.

Para ayudar a agilizar el proceso de vacunación masiva, la Universidad San Francisco de Quito apoyándose en el Galapagos Science Center, con sede en San Cristóbal, movilizó de manera inmediata un equipo conformado por 18 médicos, quienes se incorporaron al personal del MSP.

Paralelamente, otro equipo multidisciplinario conformado por 17 investigadores en varias ramas se trasladó hasta el archipiélago para poner en marcha una campaña de comunicación y educación enfocada en despejar las dudas de los ciudadanos referentes a los pros y contras de la vacuna contra el COVID-19 y motivarlos a acceder a la vacuna.

USFQ multidisciplinary team collects citizens’ perceptions about the vaccination process

Parte importante del convenio firmado entre la USFQ, el MSP y el CGREC es la realización de un proyecto científico que será liderado por la USFQ y que se enfocará en desarrollar información sobre el secuenciamiento del genoma completo del SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes adultos, para lo cual el GSC ha puesto a disposición el uso de sus laboratorios cuando sea necesario.

Finalmente, el convenio incluye un trabajo de investigación a largo plazo sobre el impacto socioeconómico de la campaña de vacunación en las islas. 

Por: Daniela González

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In 2022, the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) and the broader UNC & USFQ Galapagos Initiative will celebrate its 10th Anniversary. We are proud to announce the World Summit on Island Sustainability scheduled to be held on June 26–30, 2022 at the Galapagos Science Center and the Community Convention Center on San Cristobal Island.

The content of the World Summit will be distributed globally through social media and results documented through papers published in a book written as part of the Galapagos Book Series by Springer Nature and edited by Steve Walsh (UNC) & Carlos Mena (USFQ) as well as Jill Stewart (UNC) and Juan Pablo Muñoz (GSC/USC). The book will be inclusive and accessible by the broader island community including scientists, managers, residents, tourists, and government and non-government organizations.

While the most obvious goal of organizing the World Summit on Island Sustainability is to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the GSC and the UNC-USFQ Galapagos Initiative, other goals will be addressed through special opportunities created as part of our operational planning of the World Summit.

For instance, we seek to elevate and highlight the Galapagos in the island conservation discourse, seeking to interact with other island networks in more obvious and conspicuous ways to benefit the Galapagos Islands, the UNC-USFQ Galapagos Initiative, and the world. We will seize the opportunity to further develop the I2N2 – International Islands Network-of-Networks. Further, we wish to highlight and emphasize multiple visions of a sustainable future for the Galapagos Islands and we cannot do this alone. Therefore, engaging the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Tourism, the Government Council of Galapagos, the Galapagos National Park, and local Galapagos authorities, including government and non-government organizations and local citizen groups, is imperative.

The Galapagos Science Center on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos

Borrowing from Hawaii’s and Guam’s Green Growth Program and the Global Island Partnership, we wish to examine existing global programs that emphasize island sustainability and their incorporation into life, policies, and circumstances in the Galapagos Islands. We will also seek to enhance our connections with the institutional members of our International Galapagos Science Consortium and expand the Consortium through the recruitment of other member institutions. We will also work to benefit islands and their local communities by working with citizen groups as well as important NGOs who seek to improve the natural conditions in the Galapagos and diminish the impact of the human dimension on the future of Galapagos’ ecosystems.

Lastly, we will use the World Summit to benefit UNC & USFQ and our constituencies through a strong and vibrant communication plan about the World Summit, creating corporate relationships as sponsors, identifying funding goals through donors, and benefiting our study abroad program for student engagement in the Galapagos Islands. We plan to develop and issue a Galapagos Sustainability Communique after the World Summit that includes the vision and insights of all its participants for a sustainable Galapagos with applicability to global island settings.

We are eager to hear your perspective and have you join us at the World Summit on Island Sustainability!