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Dr. Margaret Chan Bids Farewell and Signals Member States that Progress is Not Possible Without Civil Society
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Dr. Margaret Chan, outgoing Director General of the WHO gave her final speech at the WHA on Monday in which she described NCDs as 'The trend that most profoundly reshaped the mind-set of public health’. Dr. Chan called on member states to engage with the civil society movement while reminding us of the critical role we play: 'Listen to civil society. Civil society organizations are society’s conscience. They are best placed to hold governments and businesses, like the tobacco, food, and alcohol industries, accountable. They are the ones who can give the people who suffer the most a face and a voice’.
As she closed, Dr. Chan urged the assembly to above all else, 'remember the people. Behind every number is a person who defines our common humanity and deserves our compassion, especially when suffering or premature death can be prevented’.
Click here to see Dr. Chan’s message. |
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Dr. Chan has served as Director General at the WHO for over 10 years and passes the baton today, Tuesday, when a new Director General from a slate of three nominees will be voted in.
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Images From the 70th World Health Assembly
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More from the World Health Assembly in forthcoming HCC Roundups.
For more information about the 70th World Health Assembly click on the buttons below.
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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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Commonwealth Civil Society Forum 2017 Policy Dialogue
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On Saturday May 20th, HCC was among the civil society organisations represented at the Commonwealth Civil Society Forum 2017 Policy Dialogue in Geneva. HCC was represented by Executive Director, Maisha Hutton and HCC President, Trevor Hassell. The primary aim of the policy dialogue was to gain consensus on a series of policy asks for presentation at the Commonwealth Ministers of Health Meeting on May 21st which precedes the 70th WHA. It is hoped then that the civil society asks will influence the priority messages of the Commonwealth Ministers of Health at the WHA.
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The meeting provided a platform for civil society advocates to arrive at consensus and on policy asks across three key themes: Wellbeing policy and health; structural violence and its impact on women’s health; and funding models to finance universal health coverage (UHC). These policy asks were discussed with government representatives from two commonwealth countries: Hon. John Boyce, Health Minster in Barbados, and Dr. Hon Jabbin Mulwanda, Permanent Secretary, Clinical Services in the Ministry of Health, Zambia. PS Mulwanda opened his remarks by applauding the Commonwealth Foundation for creating a space for civil society to dialogue with policymakers to directly influence health policy. He urged civil society actors to work to strengthen country level civil society/ public sector communication and collaboration.
The Rt Hon Baroness Patricia Scotland QC, Commonwealth Secretary General underscored her support for the civil society forum: “We need civil society to work together in a regenerative way in order to meet these challenges and I assure you that the secretariat is listening." The Caribbean was also represented at the forum by Dr. Rudy Cummings, CARICOM Health Desk.
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Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting
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The Commonwealth Health Ministers meeting held on Sunday May 21st, was attended by CARICOM representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname and CARICOM. Here are some photos from the event.
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3 Day Workshop on Alcohol, Tobacco and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
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On Tuesday May 16th, PAHO opened the three-day Caribbean Sub-regional Workshop on Alcohol, Tobacco and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, bringing together health and finance officials from 17 countries and territories.The workshop, the first of its kind, took place in Barbados and brought together representatives from Ministries of Health, Finance, trade officials and academia to discuss the important issues surrounding taxes on tobacco, alcoholic and sweetened beverages. HCC President Professor Sir Trevor Hassell, and Executive Director Maisha Hutton attended the workshop. |
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The first two days focused on the burden of NCDs and the mandates for tackling NCDs in the Caribbean. The specific objectives of the workshop:
- Present the global, regional, and national evidence on the cost-effectiveness of alcohol, tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages taxation to reduce their consumption as well as highlight country experiences from within the Caribbean.
- Complete and validate the collection of legislation on taxes and data on prices for alcohol, tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages in the Caribbean.
- Offer a forum for Caribbean countries to present their experiences.
- Identify technical assistance, evidence needs and opportunities to advance in implementing taxes on alcohol, tobacco and sugar sweetened beverages in the Caribbean.
Read the workshop concept note and agenda here. |
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Day three was a Caribbean Seminar on Tobacco and Trade, read the concept note and agenda here.
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Additional press coverage of the workshop:
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World Hypertension Day May 17th
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Hypertension is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which are the one of the leading causes of death in the Caribbean.
There is a wide disparity in the number of people who are aware of their hypertensive condition, those who are being treated and are not controlled, and those who are being treated and are controlled. This makes it necessary to increase efforts to raise awareness and knowledge about hypertension, as well as initiatives to facilitate access to adequate and evidence-based treatment. World Hypertension Day is an opportunity to emphasise the need to work on the prevention and control of hypertension, in order to prevent deaths from cardiovascular diseases.
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Global Standardized Hypertension Treatment Project
More than one-third of Barbadians aged 25-70 years suffer from hypertension, the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) – the world’s number one killer.
The Global Standardized Hypertension Treatment Project (GSHTP) project is aimed at improved control of hypertensive patients (attending one or more Polyclinics) in Barbados applying approaches determined at Global Hypertension Standardized Treatment Workshop, Miami, 2013. The key outcome of this pilot is the development of a sustainable model for the control of hypertension that other countries regionally and globally can apply to their healthcare systems.
Watch the video below to find out more
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More about World Hypertension Day
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Go Red for Women - Lets Do Tea!
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The Heart Foundation of Jamaica celebrated Go Red For Women Week May 8th - 12th, 2017 and this included their annual fundraising High Tea, this year the event was held at the Terra Nova Hotel on Wednesday May 10th.
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The classy afternoon included exciting entertainment by Saxophonist Dwight Richards and the evening’s host was Fae Ellington. This year’s event was held under the patronage of former Miss Jamaica World (2015) Dr. Sanneta Myrie.
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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: Care or Cure?
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A Jamaican myth states that people with sickle- cell disease (SCD) always die before reaching adulthood. This is far from the truth.
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Locally, children diagnosed at birth with SCD, and cared for at the Sickle Cell Unit (SCU), are no more likely to die within the first five years of life than children who do not have SCD; and people with severe forms of SCD often live into their 40s and older.
Clinical Care Guidelines (CCG) are also available to aid health care workers (HCW) on how to give similar care islandwide.
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But parents and patients want to know, are there options for care or for cure of SCD?
Professor Jennifer Knight-Madden is Director of the Sickle Cell Unit and also a contributing voice to the HCC.
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Sodium Adds Up – A Comparison of Sample Meal Plans in Barbados (Infographic)
Read/download
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An Insight into Depression in the Caribbean
(Infographic)
Read/download
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4th Non-Latin Caribbean Conference on Alzheimer's and other Dementias
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Alzheimer’s Association of Trinidad and Tobago (AzATT) commemorates its 17th anniversary by collaborating with Alzheimer’s Disease International, (ADI) the international federation of Alzheimer’s associations around the world, to host the 4th ADI Non Latin Caribbean Regional Conference from June 8th to 10th at the Radisson Hotel Trinidad. The theme of the conference is “Dementia in the Caribbean: No Time to Lose”. Read the press release here. |
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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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The Conference Program can be downloaded here.
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Caribbean Cardiac Society - 32nd Caribbean Cardiology Conference - Early-Bird Registration Open
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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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- Attending WHA 2017? Check out our selection of NCD events
- Civil society advocacy briefing
- Success factors for NCDs
- Better medicines for children
- Psoriasis in the NCD agenda
- Diabetes in pregnancy
- A call to action for lung health
- Building a comprehensive approach to Alzheimer’s
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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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