Evvie Habet
MSc Global Health Security & Sustainability Studies Candidate from Belize
My vocation is rooted in a simple belief: the health of our bodies is inseparable from the health of our planet.
The Research Gap: Rising Ambient Heat and Immune Dysfuction in Belize
Climate change is not a distant threat; it is a present-day public health emergency. We feel it in the rising ambient temperatures and the increasing frequency of extreme heat events. While global data confirms that these changes exacerbate the severity of symptoms for people with immune dysfunction, a critical gap exists in our understanding of how this plays out in Belize.
Currently, Central American health data often overlooks Belize, and regional Caribbean studies frequently exclude Belize. This means that the specific experiences, challenges, and needs of Belizeans living with conditions like lupus, HIV, and other immunological illnesses are invisible in the data that shapes global health policy and resource allocation.
My primary research goal is to design and implement the first dedicated data collection instruments in the region—surveys and qualitative interviews—to understand how the lived experience of rising ambient heat impacts people with immune dysfunction in Belize.
Without this foundational data, we cannot create effective, localized public health strategies to protect our most vulnerable communities.
This research is the crucial first step toward a future where public policy in Belize is informed by its own data, leading to heat adaptation plans, specialized clinical guidance, and community support systems that are tailored to our unique environment and population.
As an immigrant to Belize, I am deeply grateful for the welcome this nation has extended to me, and I am committed to giving back by contributing to a more sustainable, healthy, and resilient future inspired by those in my community living with immune dysfunction.
My commitment to this issue is not only academic; it is community-driven. The research question arose directly from my relationships among friends and neighbors, where I witness the daily realities of living with immune dysfuction in Belize.
Community Organizing & Peer Support: Recognizing the isolation that can accompany a chronic illness in Belize, I have been facilitating a grassroots peer support network for people with immune disfunction in Belize. This network provides a vital space for sharing experiences, resources, and information, and emotional support.
Advocating for Access: A significant barrier to care is transportation. I am actively involved in community organizing efforts to arrange reliable transportation to and from free clinics in the country, ensuring that geography does not determine health access.
Health Education & Lifestyle Adaptation: I am passionate about expanding health education, with a focus on sustainable diet and lifestyle adaptations. This includes advocating for and co-creating community gardens that focus on heritage, anti-inflammatory, and locally sustainable foods. By reconnecting with traditional foodways, we can empower chronically ill individuals with nutritional tools to manage their health.
🌱 Evvie Habet 🍃
🌱 Evvie Habet 🍃
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Whatsapp: +501-612-5125
Let's Connect:
I am seeking collaborators, advisors, and supporters for this vital work. If you are involved in global health, climate adaptation, immunological research, or sustainable development especially in Taiwan, Central America or the Caribbean, I would be honored to hear from you.