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Caribbean Strongly Represented at the Highest Levels in the the Global NCD Civil Society Movement
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This week the NCD Alliance announced their first Board for the period 2017-2019 and the Caribbean is strongly represented by Sir George Alleyne, Patron of the HCC and Mrs. Deborah Chen, Executive Director of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica and past member of the Board of Directors of the HCC.
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More about Sir George Alleyne
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Sir George Alleyne, a physician, is a graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI). He was appointed Professor of Medicine in UWI in 1972 and Chair of the Department in 1976. He joined the Pan American health Organization in 1981, was elected Director in 1994 and served 2 four year terms. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994 for his services to medicine in the Caribbean and in 2001 was awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community. He is recognized internationally as a leading advocate and writer for the prevention and control of NCDs. He is chair of the Expert Advisory Council of the NCD Alliance and is currently an adjunct Professor in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Chancellor of the UWI. Sir George is the Patron of the HCC.
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Deborah Chen has successfully transformed the Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ), an NGO, from a small-scale operation with 6 employees to an internationally recognized organization with over 50 full time employees. Deborah was the pioneer for the HFJ’s significant growth and influence beyond local shores through its membership with the World Heart Federation (WHF) based in Geneva, Switzerland, and the InterAmerican Heart Foundation, (IAHF) based in Dallas, USA. Deborah has served as Vice President of the board of the WHF and President of the board of the InterAmerican Heart Foundation and served on both boards for 6 years. Deborah has been one of the leading tobacco control advocates in the Caribbean working through the Heart Foundation of Jamaica and the Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco control where her team has led the advocacy movement which has triggered tobacco legislation in Jamaica. The HFJ and JCTC are longstanding members of the HCC and Deborah served as a member of the HCC Board of Directors from 2012-2014.
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British High Commissioner and WHO Director General Candidate, Pay Courtesy Visit HCC
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Dr. David Nabarro, WHO Director General Candidate, and British High Commissioner Janet Douglas paid a courtesy visit to the HCC Executive Director, Maisha Hutton on Monday May 8th, 2017.
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Ireland First Country to Restrict Unhealthy Food Sponsorship Aimed at Children
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Ireland is set to become the first country in the world to restrict unhealthy food sponsorships aimed at children attending primary school, once a newly developed code of practice is introduced.
The code, developed jointly by the Department of Health, the HSE, food companies and advertisers, has the objective of reducing people’s exposure to the marketing of food and drink that is high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS).
Three out of five Irish adults, and one in four children, are overweight or obese. As the code acknowledges, obesity levels are rising at an alarming rate and Ireland is on course to become the most obese in Europe by 2030.
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Local School in Barbados Kicks Off Their 30 Day Junk Food Challenge
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A local school in Barbados kicked off their 30 day junk food challenge today Friday May 12. This pilot is part of the HCC's regional childhood obesity action plan and is aimed at building awareness and catalysing policy development in support of healthier schools in Barbados.
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TV Talk Show Date Helps Launch May Measurement Month in Barbados
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The May Measurement Month team in Barbados got their campaign off to a strong start with an appearance on a national TV talk show.
MMM17 project leader for Barbados Dr Kenneth Connell was joined on TV 8’s The People’s Business by colleagues Fiona Anthony, President of the Heart & Stroke Foundation Barbados, MMM project assistant Dr Raphael Greenidge, and Helene Charlebois, a visiting Canadian dietician.
Talking to the programme theme of ‘Hypertension is the People’s Business’, the MMM team explained the dangers associated with raised blood pressure to show host Tisha Hind and encouraged viewers to get theirs checked at one of the free screening centres set up across the island.
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70th Session of the WHO World Health Assembly
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The 70th Session of the World Health Organization's (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 22nd to 31st May 2017. The WHA is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.
The 2017 WHA will be Dr Margaret Chan's last as Director General of WHO, as she will complete her second term in the position on 30th June 2017. This WHA will thus focus on electing the next WHO Director General, due to take office on 1st July 2017.
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The NCD Alliance will be heavily involved in a a wide range of side events dedicated to NCDs that are planned during the 70th World Health Assembly, topics span NCD financing, access to medicines, healthy ageing, women and NCDs, health of migrant populations, the role of youth, and NCDs in the SDGs; together with a number of events focused on specific NCDs. |
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WHO to Develop Global Action Plan to Promote Physical Activity
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Assignment given to WHO by the World Health Assembly
The Executive Board at its 140th session decided to request the Director-General to develop a draft global action plan to promote physical activity for consideration by Member States at the 71st World Health Assembly in May 2018, through the 142nd Executive Board in January 2018.
Why do we need a global action plan to promote physical activity?
Physical inactivity is one of the leading behavioural risk factors for the leading causes of NCDs, namely heart disease, stroke, breast and colon cancers and diabetes. Conversely, regular physical activity is associated with improved well-being, as well as enhanced social and mental health. However, inactivity is on the rise in many countries, and globally one in four adults, and four out of five adolescents, do not meet the global recommendations.
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Updating Appendix 3 of the WHO Global NCD Action Plan 2013-2020
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Assignment given to WHO by the World Health Assembly
Further to the decision of the 140th session of the WHO Executive Board to recommend to the 70th World Health Assembly to consider the draft resolution contained in EB140.R7 (which contains bracketed text in paragraph 1 related to the possible endorsement of the updated Appendix 3 to the WHO Global NCD Action Plan), WHO is convening an information session for Member States on 24 April 2017.
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Our Own Sir George Alleyne - HCC Patron and Global NCD Leader Says Farewell to UWI
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“An extraordinary physician and scholar, research scientist, orator and progressive public health leader, whose life in service to humanity and impact on the University, the Caribbean and the Americas has been profound.” This excerpt from a citation read on Professor Emeritus Sir George Alleyne on Wednesday 26 April, 2017. Regional colleagues together with family and friends of Sir George celebrated his career as Chancellor of The University of The West Indies (UWI), at a farewell dinner, held in his honour, at The UWI Cave Hill campus. Sir George will demit office in July, after serving two consecutive seven-year terms as Chancellor.
The gala ceremony included speech tributes of highlights and insights into his tenure at The UWI, as well as fond personal memories.
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World No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2017
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World No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2017
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Tobacco – a threat to development
Every year, on 31 May, WHO and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health and additional risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2017 is "Tobacco – a threat to development."
About the campaign
- It will demonstrate the threats that the tobacco industry poses to the sustainable development of all countries, including the health and economic well-being of their citizens.
- It will propose measures that governments and the public should take to promote health and development by confronting the global tobacco crisis.
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Sickle Cell Disease: Why Should I Care?
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Do you know your sickle cell trait status? Are you at risk of having a child or grandchild with sickle cell disease (SCD)?
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Do you know your sickle cell trait status? Are you at risk of having a child or grandchild with sickle cell disease (SCD)?
Ten per cent of all Jamaicans have the sickle cell trait (SCT), only one-third of those are aware that they have the trait, and fewer know what it means to them. Many people are shocked when they have a child with SCD - they either did not know that they had the trait, or didn’t understand the associated risks.
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If they have a child with a partner who also has SCT or another significant trait, they can have a child with SCD; in fact, five per cent of all Jamaicans have another significant trait. These traits can all be diagnosed by a simple blood test.
Professor Jennifer Knight-Madden is Director of the Sickle Cell Unit and also a contributing voice to the HCC.
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Sagicor and UWI Launch Healthy Body Initiative
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Students of the Eagle Hall Primary School in Barbados were reminded of the importance of healthy eating and exercise when representatives of Sagicor Life General and the Academy of Sport at the University of of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus launched the Healthy Body Initiative.
The Healthy Body Initiative is an extension of Sagicor's Adopt-A-School Programme, of which Eagle Hall Primary is a participant.
Communications and Marketing Officer at Sagicor Chad Glasgow said the insurance company wanted to encourage children to lead healthy lifestyles through sports and other activities. Click below for the e-paper or here for the PDF version. |
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African American Health
Creating equal opportunities for health
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African Americans are living longer. The death rate for African Americans has declined about 25% over 17 years, primarily for those aged 65 years and older. Even with these improvements, new analysis shows that younger African Americans are living with or dying of many conditions typically found in white Americans at older ages. The difference shows up in African Americans in their 20s, 30s, and 40s for diseases and causes of death. When diseases start early, they can lead to death earlier. Chronic diseases and some of their risk factors may be silent or not diagnosed during these early years. Health differences are often due to economic and social conditions that are more common among African Americans than whites. For example, African American adults are more likely to report they cannot see a doctor because of cost. All Americans should have equal opportunities to pursue a healthy lifestyle.
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112 Men Attend Cancer Support Services PSA Screening
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Cancer Support Services held it’s third PSA Screening for 2017 on Saturday May 6 at their “Arborside”, Belmont Road Office.
The Charity would like to sincerely thank sponsors Tech 9 Crime Prevention, Security and Bailiff Services, MediLab Services Inc., Tredia Rentals who donated the use of a tent and chairs to ensure the comfort of those gentlemen who were waiting to be screened and Dr. Bandele Majeks and Dr. Makeba Brooks of Urgent Care Mobile who volunteered their time and use of their state of the art Mobile Care Vehicle to assist with the screening.
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Civil Society Led Tobacco Control Advocacy in the Caribbean
The experiences of the Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control (JCTC) .
Read/download
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Blood Pressure Control Through Community Action
Multi Country Project implemented in Dominica, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, & St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Read/download
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Fears Britain Faces Stroke Epidemic Fuelled by Bulging Waistlines
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Britain is facing an “shocking” stroke epidemic as bulging waistlines take their toll, a major report by Kings College London has found.
The study of 35 countries warns that within two decades, the number of strokes is set to rise by 44 per cent - far above the average across Europe.
The UK already has the sixth highest number of strokes in Europe, with among the highest cholesterol levels.
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WHO Global Conference on Noncommunicable Diseases
Enhancing policy coherence between different spheres of policy making that have a bearing on attaining SDG target 3.4 on NCDs by 2030.
Montevideo, Uruguay, 18-20 October 2017
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World Health Organization (WHO) is organizing the Global Conference on Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs): Enhancing policy coherence between different spheres of policy making that have a bearing on attaining SDG target 3.4 on NCDs to, by 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from NCDs through prevention and treatment. The Conference is hosted by the President of Uruguay from 18 to 20 October 2017 in Montevideo.
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4th Non-Latin Caribbean Conference on Alzheimer's and other Dementias
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5th Latin American and Caribbean Conference Tobacco or Health
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EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE - JUNE 2, 2017
Register online before June 2, 2017 to take advantage of discounted rates to attend the 5th Latin American and Caribbean Conference Tobacco or Health, which will take place on June 13-16, 2017 at the Radisson Hotel in Montevideo, Uruguay. Registration and hotel information can be found at www.tobaccoorhealthlac.org . The conference will have simultaneous English-Spanish translation.
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Cancer Support Services 6th Annual Conference
Registration is now open
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CMPPA 4th Annual Medical Conference & Community Outreach Program
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Caribbean Cardiac Society - 32nd Caribbean Cardiology Conference - Early-Bird Registration Open
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- Putting NCDs front & centre
- WHA 2017: Check out our calendar of NCD events
- May webinar video recording and slides are now online
- Civil Society Advocacy Briefing
- Success factors for NCDs
- Innovation Incubator session: creative advocacy for impact
- Addressing the commercial determinants of health
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From the NCD Alliance News Digest
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NCDs News
Risk Factors News
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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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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 65 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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The HCC promote the work of civil society throughout the Caribbean in a variety of ways including sharing of their materials, this is not an endorsement of their materials or messages. The information contained in this newsletter is for general information purposes only, we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct but any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Through this newsletter you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of the HCC. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
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