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NCDs One of the Three Slow Motion Disasters Facing the World
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HCC President and Executive Director are at the 69th World Health Assembly this week where Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General, issued a stern warning to member states remarking that the the global health landscape was being shaped by three slow motion disasters: a changing environment; antimicrobial resistance; and the rise of chronic NCDs - the leading killers worldwide. These being collectively created by policies that put profits above human health. Unchecked these slow motion disasters will eventually reach a tipping point there the harm done is irreversible. You can see the Director General’s remarks here. |
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NCDs have been featured prominently throughout the WHA at side events addressing a variety of issues including fast-tracking of the NCD civli society movement, tackling childhood obesity, sustainable investments for NCDs, public private partnerships for financing the SDGs, youth engagement around NCDs, realising the potential of workplaces to prevent and control NCDs, Alcohol Marketing in a Digital World, and How the United Nations Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of NCDs is looking ahead to 2030 helping countries to build national NCD responses.
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CARICOM Representatives Sound Off on The WHA and NCDS
The Caribbean was represented by many member states including: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Suriname. Executive Director of the Caribbean Pubilc Health Agency was also at the WHA. Representatives shared their perspectives on the WHA and NCDs with the Healthy Caribbean Coalition. Have a look below.
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Watch videos here
Click on the images below to see the photo highlights from the WHA.
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Alarming Lack of Progress Towards 2025 NCD Targets, WHO and Member States Must Fast-track Action Now
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NCD Alliance - Geneva, Switzerland, 25 May 2016 - Activities at the 69th World Health Assembly Events included a Civil Society Pre-Briefing on Sunday 22 May, two high-level panel discussions on financing for NCDs and nutrition, starring WHO Director-General Margaret Chan and Chef and Campaigner Jamie Oliver. A high-level roundtable event on workplace wellness and NCDs launched a new report on workplace wellness and NCDs. Read more
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Time to Step Up NCD Action, Health Ministers Told at WHA
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POS Evaluation website: Geneva, Switzerland, May 25, 2016: The Caribbean’s Health Ministers are in a unique position to turn the tide against the region’s growing epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and need to do much more, a CARICOM meeting at the 69th World Health Assembly heard on Tuesday evening.
Hosted by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr Carissa Etienne, the meeting brought together Ministers of Health from several countries including Hon. Molwyn Joseph of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Patrick Pengel of Suriname and Grenada’s Hon. Nickolas Steele. They were joined by health officials such as Dr James Hospedales, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency, Dr Rudolph Cummings of the CARICOM Health Desk and Dr Alafia Samuels, Director of the Chronic Disease Research Centre. Participants discussed next steps in confronting an epidemic of heart disease, strokes, diabetes and cancer which is the worst in the Americas. Read more
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Placing NCDs at the Centre of the Women and Girls Health and Development Agenda
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From May 16-19, 2016 over 5000 global advocates descended in Copenhagen in solidarity around the rights of women and girls. This was the second time that HCC had the honour of participating in this unique conference which is held every 3 years. Maisha Hutton, with support from the American Cancer Society, attended the last Women Deliver 2013 in Kuala Lumpur where she shared HCC’s work on the prevention and control of cervical cancer. This year with the support of the NCD Alliance, Maisha attended once again and presented HCC's work around women and NCDs and in particular cervical cancer advocacy.
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The conference was a tremendous experience brining together advocates, activists and global leaders around a collective commitment to prioritising the health and well being of women and girls. Dominant themes included partnerships, agency, integration, information, accountability and the centrality of male inclusion. The great news for the NCD community was that awareness of the need to address NCDs in the women’s health agenda is growing as demonstrated by the presence of 3 NCD related sessions hosted by the NCD Alliance and partners. The not so good news is that this isn’t enough and falls woefully short of where it should be given the impact of NCDs on women. Of the 112 sessions, NCDs represented less than 3% of the airtime at the entire conference. NCDs (including mental health) are the leading cause of preventable deaths and disability among women globally causing 18 million deaths among women in their most productive years. Tackling NCDs is central to advancing women’s health and development, and vital to safeguard the gains already made ( NCD Alliance Women and NCDs Call to Action). |
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Key messages as we move on from WD 2016:
- There is a need to integrate NCDs into the Women’s Health Agenda and in particular into existing health programmes and services for HIV/AIDS and along the entire continuum of RMNCAH (Reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health) and across the life-course.
- Given the significant burden of NCDs on women, NCDs should be given greater prominence in this civil society space amongst those who fight passionately for the rights of women and girls. The NCD community must do a better job to build awareness and create champions among women’s rights activists.
- NCDs should be featured strongly at WD2019 in the plenary session - commensurate with their global burden.
For the HCC we will continue to promote the health and women and girls through:
- Support for cervical cancer prevention and control, advocacy capacity building among civil society, and promotion of the HPV vaccine
- Advocacy for policies and programmes that support healthier food environments for children and increased physical activity
- Promotion of national NCD registries that adopt a gendered approach to collection and utilization of data
- Support of multisectoral mechanisms with a strong representation of gender interests to adequately respond to NCDs from a gender perspective.
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- WD2016 Closing Address by Hillary Rodham Clinton
- WDLive Virtual Moments
- WDLive Top Four
- WD2016 in Photos
- The WD Community Take
- WDLive Global Viewing Events
- The Final Word
Read more
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The Commitment To Girls and Women
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Wherever inequality lives, there stands a girl or woman able to turn the tide of adversity into a tidal wave of progress. We simply have to commit to her. Deliver for Good is a global campaign that applies a gender lens to the Sustainable Development Goals and promotes 12 critical investments in girls and women to power progress for all. Girls and women carry more than babies. Or water. They carry families. They carry businesses. They carry potential. And when we invest in their health, rights, and wellbeing, it creates a positive ripple effect that li s up entire countries. Give girls and women access to healthcare, they will deliver more resilient families. Give girls and women the potential to learn they will deliver stronger economies. Give girls and women opportunities, they will deliver solutions.
Deliver for them. Deliver for all. Deliver for Good. Read more |
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Oxford Martin Policy Paper Calls for a New Global Agenda for Women’s Health
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The latest policy paper from the Oxford Martin School - ‘ Women’s Health: A New Global Agenda’ – calls for global and national women’s health strategies to focus on non-communicable diseases, which kill more than 18 million women a year worldwide.
The paper, which was written by academics from The George Institute for Global Health, was launched on 10 February at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health. Read more |
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The HCC fully applauds the leadership of the AXA Group and urges the Caribbean private sector community to be equally as bold and resolute in their commitment to health over profits for Caribbean people.
In June 2015 over 40 national and regional businesses met at the ' Measuring and Engaging the Business Sector Response to NCDs: The Caribbean NCD Private Sector Forum’ to discuss the sector’s response to NCDs and agreed to be actively engaged and contribute to the multisectoral response to the prevention and control of chronic diseases in their workplaces, through workplace wellness programmes and the modification of products and services. We ask leaders present at that forum, and those in particular who endorsed the Caribbean Private Business Sector Statement of Support on NCDs, to undertake similar such courageous measures in their businesses (particularly reducing exposure to tobacco smoke) to protect the health and well being of their employees and their communities. The adoption of such measures will send strong unambiguous messages to the tobacco industry that profits will not supersede human health.
The NCD Alliance also welcomed the annoucement via a press release and on their website here.
The initial announcemnet by the AXA group can be seen here.
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World Hypertension Day Across the Region
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March and Rally on Tuesday, May 17th, 2016
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The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Diabetic and Hypertensive Association, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, held a march and rally on Tuesday, May 17th, 2016, to commemorate “WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY 2016”, which was celebrated around the world on May 17th, 2016, under the theme “Know Your Numbers.” The march commenced at 3:30pm, at Heritage Square, then on to Higginson Street and then back to Heritage Square where a rally was held. Music will be supplied by the Royal SVG Police Force Band.
The keynote speaker for the rally was Dr. Tomo Kanda, Pan American Health Organization Regional Advisor on Chronic Diseases and Mental Health. There were also addresses made by the NCD Co- ordinator in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Mrs. Beverly Liverpool and, President of the Diabetic and Hypertensive Association, Mrs. Rosita King, along with other cultural performances. Additionally, on Friday, May 20th, 2016, an outreach community activity was held at the Central Vegetable Market, Kingstown, from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Blood Pressure checks, Body Mass Index, and Counseling services were offered. See more pictures here. |
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Smart Food Choices, Healthy Eating Workshop
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The SVG Salt Smart Coalition in the Ministry of Health, Wellness & the Environment, hosted a one day workshop entitled “Smart Food Choices, Healthy Eating” on Tuesday, 17th May, 2016, at Frenches House, Kingstown, from 8: 30 am to 2: 30 pm. This activity was held as part of the Salt Reduction Project educational drive. It was also planned to coincide with “ World Hypertension Day” 2016, which would be celebrated around the world on May 17th, 2016, under the theme, “ know your numbers”.
Dr. Tomo Kanda, PAHO Regional Advisor on Chronic Diseases and Mental Health addressed the gathering. A presentation was made on the “Effects of Excess Salt on the Body”, by Consultant Nephrologist at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital – Dr. Twana Browne-Caesar. Other presentations were made by the staff at the Nutrition Unit, in the Ministry of Health, Wellness & the Environment on the topics,” Reading Food Labels and Healthy Food preparation Methods”. See more pictures form the workshop here. |
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Barbados Scenic 'Know Your Numbers' Bus Crawl
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World Hypertension Day (WHD) 2016 is brought to the fore during the week of May 17-24. The five buses on the scenic bus crawl left the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados, and made the way to Lower Carlton St. James. This was the first location where persons had blood pressure checks, and the response was so well received that persons within the community came to the site in order to have a blood pressure measurement. This effort contributed to the overall goal of three million screenings in 2016 within the World Hypertension League.
Based on the BP Data collected 164 Blood Pressure measurements were conducted through the Scenic Bus Crawl. Mrs. Gina Pitts, CEO of the Heart & Stroke Foundation said " ...the Foundation continues to do its part in the International Society of Hypertension's goal of having three million blood pressures taken globally...and this was great work done by all involved." Read more
World Hypertension Day in the regional press:
Jamaica Gleaner - Halting Hypertension
Jamaica Observer - Hypertension and Your Heart |
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On the occasion of the 69th World Health Assembly, The World Cancer Research Fund International and the NCD Alliance's are launching a new policy brief: Ambitious SMART commitments to address NCDs, overweight and obesity. The brief is also available in Spanish and French on www.wcrf.org/SMART.
Governments are currently off-track to meet global nutrition and NCD targets by 2025. In the context of the ICN2 recommendations, the proclamation of a UN Decade of Action on Nutrition and the 2030 Agenda, the brief ‘unpacks' the ICN2 Framework for Action recommendations by illustrating how they can be translated into concrete, ambitious policy commitments which are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. The example policy commitments are accompanied by case studies from around the world.
The brief focuses on select SMART commitments which target overweight & obesity and nutrition-related NCDs. Where possible, policy actions are identified which reduce undernutrition at the same time (so-called double-duty actions). Double-duty actions hold the potential to impact undernutrition and overweight & obesity and NCDs at the same time, as opposed to addressing specific types of malnutrition in isolation. Double-duty actions should be prioritised by governments and donors. |
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Territory’s Health Status Calls For Unified Front
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Premier of the Virgin Islands, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE has said his Government will continue to put preventive programmes in place to reduce the morbidity levels of residents affected by chronic diseases in the Territory.
Premier Smith delivered remarks at the BVI Conference for the Implementation of the NCD Strategy held on Tuesday to discuss the status of the health of the population.
Read more |
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PAHO Meeting on Alcohol Marketing Regulation: Final Report
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An exploratory meeting on regulation of marketing of alcohol products was held at the Pan American Health Organization in WDC, 12-13 January 2015. The objectives of the meeting were to summarize the research on the effects of alcohol marketing on young people; review existing statutory and self-regulatory codes on marketing and examine their effectiveness; and describe the experience of countries where alcohol marketing legislation has been recently enacted or proposed.
Read the final report here. |
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Breast Health and Abnormalities Education Lecture
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During the presentation on “Breast Health and Abnormalities” held on Monday May 23, 2016 at the University of St. Martin, Dr. Haydel pointed out that there some simple things, which are in our control, that we can all do to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
A - Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise everyday
I - If consuming alcohol limit to less than two standard drinks per day
M – Maintain a healthy body weight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18.5 t0 25kg/m2
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European Court of Justice Upholds Strict Rules on Tobacco
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PARIS - Europe’s highest court upheld tough new tobacco rules on Wednesday, finding that the European Union had the legal right to place restrictions on the sale of electronic cigarettes and to adopt rules requiring cigarette packs to carry graphic images of diseased human organs. The new rules take effect this month, although the union’s 28 member countries have some leeway in how to adopt the measures, which also include a ban on menthol cigarettes.
Although the court ruling cannot be appealed, the tobacco industry, which lobbied against the rules before the European Union voted them into law in 2014, indicated on Wednesday that it would continue to seek to overturn some of the specific elements, including rules meant to remove the marketing allure from cigarette packaging. Read more
Related articles:
ECJ upholds validity of EU directive regulating tobacco products – Part I and Part II |
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World No Tobacco Day 2016 31st May 2016
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For this year's World No Tobacco Day, WHO and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control are calling on countries to get ready for plain (standardized) packaging of tobacco products. Plain packaging refers to “measures to restrict or prohibit the use of logos, colours, brand images or promotional information on packaging other than brand names and product names displayed in a standard colour and font style (plain packaging). Read more |
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Cancer Support Services’ 5th Annual Conference
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Tom Hanks Diagnosed With Diabetes After Being an 'Idiot' With Food and Weight When Younger
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Tom Hanks has suggested he is responsible for his diabetes diagnosis because he was once an “idiot” with his diet and weight. There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 2 is the most common, especially among older people, and is associated with obesity. If left untreated Type 2 diabetes can cause blindness, kidney failure, and even lower limb amputation. It also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Read more |
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Caribbean Medical Providers Practicing Abroad - 3rd Annual Caribbean Medical Conference
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Caribbean Medical Providers Practicing Abroad invites you to their 3rd Annual Caribbean Medical Conference where they will bring medical and clinical providers volunteering from around the world to share awareness, education, skills, and community outreach services to the people of Grenada on June 10, 11, & 12, 2016. This year’s conference will be hosted at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort, Grenada, West Indies. Read more |
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World Cancer Leaders’ Summit 2016
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Call for Applications
UICC calls for the participation of eight young professionals in the World Cancer Leaders' Summit. The Summit convenes 250 selected global decision makers from UN agencies, governments, cancer/health organisations, academia and the private sector every year to discuss emerging issues related to cancer that need a coordinated, multilevel global response. Read more
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CARPHA Conference Registration is Now Open
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The online registration form can be accessed via the following link: Register Now.
The deadline for early registration at USD 449.00 ends on May 23 thereafter the registration fee will be USD 499.00. Conference Flyer |
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Smell of Smoke...
Even though you may not smoke, but you are within the spaces of cigarette smoke, you must be aware of its impact on you.
As Crop Over Comes
Notes to consider during the season... Stay as hydrated as possible, as our bodies readily depend on the this.
Read more from the Heart & Stroke Foundation newsletter here.
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Please Follow Us and Our Members on Social Media
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If you want to share your organisations social media details in our roundup please let us know hcc@healthycaribbean.org.
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- #WHA69: Putting NCDs front and centre
- SMART Commitments
- Download our media pack for #WHA69: resources for action!
- NCDs and RMNCAH, a shared agenda
- Call on G7 nations to phase out coal
- Making the Case for NCDs: Sustainable Investments, Smarter Financing
- Civil Society Briefing: NCDs at the 69th World Health Assembly
Read more
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HCC News Roundup Archive - If you have missed any of our News Roundups you can view previous Roundups on our News Roundup Archive webpage here.
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The HCC is a regional network of Caribbean health NGOs and civil society organizations with the remit to combat chronic diseases (NCDs) and their associated risk factors and conditions. Our membership presently consists of more than 50 Caribbean-based health NGOs and over 55 not-for-profit organisations and, in excess of 200 individual members based in the Caribbean and across the globe.
To join the HCC email us at hcc@healthycaribbean.org
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The work of HCC would not be possible without core funding from Sagicor Life Inc
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