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The Healthy Caribbean Coalition

April 8th - April 14th 2016

Feature

World Hypertension Day is Fast Approaching

World Hypertension Day 2016
The World Hypertension League (WHL) in partnership with the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) is excited to celebrate World Hypertension Day (WHD) 2016! World Hypertension Day will be celebrated on May 17th-May 24th, 2016. The theme for World Hypertension Day is Know Your Numbers with a goal of increasing high blood pressure (BP) awareness in all populations around the world. Read more
Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados World Hypertension Day
Barbados through The Heart & Stroke Foundation, will join The World Hypertension League to Celebrate World Hypertension Day (WHD).  Last year there were 2.5 million Blood Pressure Screenings completed around the globe! This year the aim is to complete 3 million screenings globally. The theme of WHD 2016 is “know your numbers” with the goal of increasing high blood pressure awareness in all populations around the world. Once individuals become familiar with their blood pressure measurement then they can take action if necessary. Read more
PLEASE SHARE YOUR PLANNED EVENTS FOR WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY 2016
Email us hcc@healthycaribbean.org
News

Dominica Diabetes Association Shares Concerns of the Minister for Health About Childhood Obesity in Dominica

Childhood Obesity
The percentage of overweight and obese children and youth in Dominica is increasing at an alarming rate, says Minister of Health Dr Kenneth Darroux. He said clinical data indicated that “the prevalence of overweight and obese children (0-59 months) increased from 9 per cent in 2000 to 12 per cent in 2009; and an estimated 24.8 per cent of adolescents (13-15 years) were overweight and 9.1 per cent, obese”. Read the full article here.
Mrs. Marvlyn Birmingham: President of the Dominica Diabetes Association
The Dominica Diabetes Association (DOMDA) shares the concerns expressed by the Honourable, Minister for Health. Although the data dates back to 2009, it is generally felt that the information is relevant and in fact future studies may very well reveal even higher incidence and prevalence of obesity among the young. In a country which, produces lots of fruits and vegetables, it is amazing that over 90% of the population eat less than the recommended “five combined servings of Fruit and Vegetables per day” (STEPS survey 2008).
Much work needs to be done at the community to reorient our eating habits. DOMDA commends the Government on the implementation of the “sugar tax” and look forward to participating in the ongoing consultation leading to the development and implementation of the School Health and Nutrition Policy. 

The Ministry of Health for Jamaica and the Jamaica Diabetes Association Celebrates World Health Day

The Ministry of Health for Jamaica and the Jamaica Diabetes Association Celebrates World Health Day
On April 7th in recognition of World Health Day the Ministry of Health for Jamaica, PAHO and the Jamaica Diabetes Association held a Public Forum entitled 'Reversing Diabetes: a Possibility or Dream', the forum addressed the issues relating to diabetes and living with the condition. Representatives from MOH, PAHO and the Diabetes Association were present and everyone took part in an exercise session. Read more

Diabetes at Epidemic Level in St Kitts and Nevis

Diabetes at Epidemic Level in St Kitts and Nevis
In St Kitts and Nevis, diabetes is bigger than zika, bigger than HIV/AIDS, so says chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Patrick Martin. “We have an epidemic of diabetes in the Federation............ We have a diabetes rate of 20% in adults. One in every five adults has diabetes” he said. 
Speaking to WINN FM, Martin said obesity is driving the epidemic in St Kitts and Nevis and the region. “In the Caribbean obesity is the major driver of obesity,” he said.
Read more

Jamaicans Encouraged to Engage in Greater Physical Activity

Jamaicans Encouraged to Engage in Greater Physical Activity
Jamaicans are being encouraged to engage in greater physical activity to reduce their risk of developing lifestyle illnesses, such as hypertension and diabetes. This call comes from Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton who said this is in keeping with the Government’s drive to lessen the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the country. Read more

The Cancer Society of the Bahamas Funwalk 2016

Funwalk 2016 the Cancer Society Bahamas

Implementation Workshop Presentations Now Available

Implementation Workshop Presentations Now Available
Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of NCDs – Time to Accelerate Action.

Presentations from the recent Port of Spain Declaration Evaluation Implementation Workshop are now available to download here.

United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN) Strategic Plan 2016 - 2020

The Strategic Plan provides information particularly on UNSCN’s vision, role, advantages and added value. 

This is an unprecedented and exciting time in the fight to overcome malnutrition in all its forms. Over the past decade, nutrition has received increased recognition and support by the international community. Multiple initiatives have been undertaken, more resources than ever are being devoted to nutrition programmes.
United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN) Strategic Paln 2016 - 2020

The scope and nature of the nutrition challenges and problems are now better understood and documented; they are indeed global, extending to all countries, covering all forms of malnutrition – under-nutrition, overweight, obesity and micro-nutrient malnutrition - often simultaneously in the same country, the same household and even the same person. 
It is also recognized that the forms and severity of malnutrition differ according to contexts; in particular, emergency and fragile situations require specific attention. Regardless of the context, women play a key role to improve nutrition and yet they are more vulnerable to suffer from malnutrition. Read more

Harvard Study Highlights Links Between Green Space and Mental Health and NCDs

Harvard Study highlights the link between green space and mental health and NCDs
Women in the U.S. who live in homes surrounded by more vegetation appear to have significantly lower mortality rates than those who live in areas with less vegetation, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). During an eight-year study period, there were fewer deaths among women who lived in the greenest surroundings - their mortality rate was 12% lower than those living in homes in the least green areas. Read more

Diabetes Dilemma

Diabetes Dilemma
Diabetes is not a new disease. Commonly called 'sugar' by laymen, it has been around for a long time. Current medical evidence suggests that this disease will continue to be a significant public-health threat well into the 21st century. Indeed, the increase in diabetes diagnoses worldwide has been described as explosive.The dynamics of 'sugar' has changed over the years. For example, it is no longer considered an adult onset disease because of rising rates of childhood cases. Once it was viewed as a disease of affluence, it is now common among all income brackets. Read more

National Spending on Health by Source for 184 Countries Between 2013 and 2040

National Spending on Health by Source for 184 countries between 2013 and 2040
A general consensus exists that as a country develops economically, health spending per capita rises and the share of that spending that is prepaid through government or private mechanisms also rises. However, the speed and magnitude of these changes vary substantially across countries, even at similar levels of development. In this study, we use past trends and relationships to estimate future health spending, disaggregated by the source of those funds, to identify the financing trajectories that are likely to occur if current policies and trajectories evolve as expected. Read more

Cost of Diabetes Hits 825 Billion Dollars a Year

Number of adults with diabetes reaches 422 million worldwide

The global cost of diabetes is now 825 billion dollars per year, according to the largest ever study of diabetes levels across the world. The research, which was led by scientists from Imperial College London, and involved Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the World Health Organization, and nearly 500 researchers across the globe, incorporated data from 4.4 million adults in most of the world’s countries. The research team has also created interactive maps and other visuals that show the data for each country, and how they compare to each other. Read more

Remarks on the Adoption of the NGO Committee Report

Remarks at the Coordination and Management Meeting of ECOSOC on the adoption of the NGO Committee Report by Ambassador Sarah Mendelson, U.S. Representative for Economic and Social Affairs,U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The United States is alarmed at the increasing trend of global restrictions on civic space, both within countries and through limiting civil society’s participation in the UN system. President Obama has spoken of this issue numerous times including during high level week. In just the past three years, we have seen more than 50 countries introduce or enact measures to restrict civil society. This is a matter of great, great concern to the United States, and I know it concerns many of you in this room. Read more
Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados Latest
The Green Paw-Paw....
Growing up in the Caribbean you may remember hearing the the older folks swearing of the healing powers of "bush" medicine.  

Upcoming in May...
World Hypertension Day. Barbados through The Heart & Stroke Foundation, will join The World Hypertension League to Celebrate World Hypertension Day (WHD).  

Read more from the Heart & Stroke Foundation newsletter here.
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NCD Alliance Newsletter
  • Health & NCDs: Sustainable investments, smarter financing
  • India NCD Alliance
  • East Africa workshop
  • Why involve youth in NCD advocacy?
  • Barcelona Declaration for Habitat III 
Read more
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
The work of HCC would not be possible without core funding from Sagicor Life Inc
Sagicor Life Inc.
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