Featured

HCC Signs MOU for 3 More Years With Sagicor Life Barbados

On July 10, 2015 the HCC officially renewed its relationship with Sagicor Life Barbados signing and extending Memorandum of Understanding for a further 3 years, 2015 - 2018. Three years ago a similar MOU was signed between the two organisations in which Sagicor Life committed to providing funds in support of the establishment of a Secretariat at the HCC to allow for the delivery of a wide range of programmes in chronic disease prevention and control throughout the Caribbean.

Ed Clarke, Chief Operating Officer & General Manager Barbados at Sagicor Life Inc commented: "Today, we affirm our confidence in the HCC and our satisfaction with the results that have been achieved, by extending this partnership for three more years, until 2018". Sir Trevor Hassell, HCC President noted the important role of the private sector in the response to NCDs, “The prevention and control of NCDs requires a multi-sectoral response with contributions from government and policymakers, civil society and the private sector. The private sector has several recognised roles to play in the response, which includes workplace health programmes for all members of staff, application of its several unique attributes and strengths to assist in creating an enabling environment for people to more easily live healthy lives and philanthropy. This monetary support to the HCC which will be provided by Sagicor is an excellent example of a significant philanthropic contribution by the private sector made in response to the epidemic of NCDs and is an example that I hope other private sector businesses in the region will follow as we all seek to prevent and control NCDs”.

Maisha Hutton, Executive Director highlighted the significant achievements made by the HCC since 2012 as a result of their kind support and indicated that the HCC would shortly be published a 3 year report of programmes conducted by the HCC and supported by Sagicor. HCC partners were present to share successes of their respective programmes: Dr. Kenneth Connell PI of the GSHTP; Dr. Jamario Skeete and Dr. Addison St. John of the GSHTP and the BPCCA; and Shawn Hercules of Youth4NCDs.

The President, Board of Directors, Executive Director, and members of the HCC, would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Sagicor Life Inc., Barbados, for continued commitment to the prevention and control of NCDs in the region in general and to the HCC in particular.

Click here for more photos from the signing.

Related press coverage:
Poor health can be a major cause of low productivity read more
Putting Health First read more
Government Urged to implement Policy on High-sugar Foods read more
Premiums Likely to Rise read more

News

Excise Tax on Sweetened Beverages a Positive Move for the Country

“ON a national level, the sweet beverage tax is a huge step forward, and we hope that is a step that other governments throughout the region will follow.” This was the word coming from Maisha Hutton, Managing Director, Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC).

She reiterated, “It is a huge success. We are one of ten countries in the world that has a tax on sugar sweetened beverages. Read more

British Medical Association is to Demand a 20 Percent Tax on Sugary Drinks

Sugary drinks should be taxed at 20 per cent to tackle the obesity crisis, doctors will demand today. In a landmark report the British Medical Association will urge Downing Street to take on the food industry. It found that poor diet costs the NHS £6billion a year while claiming 70,000 lives. The BMA’s proposed levy on fizzy drinks and sugar-laden juices would help subsidise the sale of fruit and vegetables. Read more

Transforming Our World by 2030: A New Agenda For Global Action

On 25 to 27 September 2015 Heads of State will come together in New York for a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations to adopt the post-2015 development agenda. The elements of post-2015 will include a Declaration; Sustainable Development Goals and targets; Means of Implementation and Global Partnership for Sustainable Development; and follow-up and review. These can be found in the Final draft of the outcome document for the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda currently under review through a series of Intergovernmental negotiations (IGN).

As we lead up to the UN Summit in September, the HCC will be seeking to build regional awareness, buy-in and commitment to supporting the post 2015 development agenda at all levels, from individuals to organisations including civil society, private sector and governments. Every week will be sharing elements of the outcome document (currently final draft under review through IGN) during our weekly roundup. See this week’s excerpt below.

Health Goal Targets: Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

3.1 By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births
3.2 By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age
3.3 By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases
3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
3.5 Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol
3.6 By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents
3.7 By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes
3.8 Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all
3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination

For more on the post 2015 development process click here
To see the full Final draft of the outcome document for the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda click here
For more information on the post 2015 development agenda visit the NCD Alliance here
For more information on Advocacy on NCDs and the post 2015 development agenda check out the NCD Alliance Toolkit here
For more information on the UN Summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda click here

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Fights Life-Saving Measures

After Jamaica announced that it was going to increase graphic warnings to cover 75 percent of tobacco packaging, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote to the prime minister stating “that there is no scientific basis to demonstrate that [graphic warning labels] covering 75 percent of the pack will advance public health objectives. They will, however, erode the [intellectual property] rights of trademark owners, and create unnecessary obstacles to trade.” Jamaica ultimately reduced pictorial warning labels to 60 percent of packaging. See the letter from the U.S Chamber of Commerce to the Prime Minister of Jamaica here.

A series of investigative articles by The New York Times beginning June 30, 2015 exposed how the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (U.S. Chamber) has worked systematically in countries around the world to help the tobacco industry fight life-saving measures to reduce tobacco use. Now, a group of public interest and international public health organizations have released “Blowing Smoke for Big Tobacco.” Read more

Tackling Obesity through partnership, policy and practice using a multi-sectoral approach, July 22nd -23rd, the Knutsford Court Hotel Kingston, keynote speak Dr. C. James Hospedales, Executive Director CARPHA. Read more

135 Diabetes Amputations Every Week in the UK: Obesity Blamed for 17% Rise in Operations

Now an estimated 3.9million adults with diabetes in the UK and figures show 7,041 amputations carried out a year due to the condition. Diabetes UK says 80 per cent of operations could be avoided and claims many doctors miss early signs of problems in the feet and hands. Read more

Depression and CVD - Are you depressed? Depression can be defined as an extreme sense of dejection and a feeling of low spirits from loss of courage or hope.

Read more from the Heart & Stroke Foundation newsletter here

Virtual Communities of Practice: Can They Support the Prevention Agenda in Public Health?

Virtual Communities of Practice (CoPs) are flexible communication and knowledge management tools enabling collaboration, sharing of best practice and professional development. There have been few studies that have looked at the use and usefulness of virtual CoPs in public health. Read more

Climate and NCDs: let’s talk

With major climate and global health events approaching, and the eagerly-awaited release of the Sustainable Development Goals, we are faced with an exciting window of opportunity. We’ve got the science, now let's find a common language to inspire action. It's time to alter food systems, and turn common risks into common opportunities - because if we get it right for food, we will get it right for people and the planet too. Read more

NCD Alliance Webinar

The NCD Alliance will be holding their next webinar on Wednesday 22nd July at 10:00 – 11:30 am EST/16:00 – 17:30 CET. The powerpoint slides and recording will be made available on the NCD Alliance website after the webinar. Discussion will include:

Updates on Post 2015
Preparations for the Global Forum of National and Regional NCD Alliances
The UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS) 2016

In addition, we invite our participants to submit questions prior to the webinar by emailing us at info@ncdalliance.org by 20th July. Participants will also be able to send questions and feedback during the webinar. Register here

FFD3: Debates and good outcomes for health and NCDs
Member States adopt FfD3 Outcome Document
New mapping of civil society action on NCDs in South-East Asia launched
2016 World Cancer Congress - Call for Sessions

From the NCD Alliance Weekly Digest

NCDs News

Devex: An overlooked part of the Nepal quake response: mental health read more
Mobihealthnews: Roche launches FDA-cleared diabetes app with insulin calculator in US read more

Risk Factor News

WHO: Stepped up government tax action needed to curb tobacco epidemic and Increase, enforce taxes to stop tobacco epidemic read more
The Lancet: Diet and lifestyle interventions for obese pregnant women read more
WEF: What the Philippines can teach us about tobacco taxation read more
World Bank: Making the public health case for tobacco taxation read more
BMJ: World Head & Neck Cancer Day, 27 July: A call for effective tobacco & areca nut control read more
BMJ: Smoking cigarettes may increase risk of schizophrenia, study shows read more
Devex: Can tobacco excise taxes be a boon for NCD financing? read more
NEJM: A Spotlight on Sunscreen Regulation read more
BioMed Central: Childhood obesity: what grown-ups can do about it read more
Washington Post: Should you have to be 21 to buy cigarettes? Most Americans say yes read more
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: Tobacco Tax: A Win-win Measure for Public Health 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.

Forward

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