CARIBBEAN CIVIL SOCIETY BRIDGETOWN DECLARATION: TACKLING THE
CARIBBEAN EPIDEMIC OF CHRONIC DISEASES.
We, the undersigned
representatives of Caribbean Civil Society and related organizations,
on the occasion of a special Caribbean Civil Society led conference
titled “Healthy Caribbean 2008 – a wellness revolution conference”,
held on the 16-18 October, 2008, at Bridgetown, Barbados;
Recognizing
that chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs), which include heart
diseases, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and lung diseases, are occurring
in epidemic proportions in all countries of the region, resulting in
the majority of ill health, suffering and premature death, producing
excessive financial and personal burden on the people of the region,
and requiring urgent, comprehensive intervention;
Aware that the above situation has occurred as a result
of the increase in several common risk factors for CNCDs in the
region, and an inadequate societal response to risk factor
management, screening, prevention of these conditions, and
treatment of persons already affected;
Recognizing that prevention of disease and promotion of
good health are both affordable and effective and would prevent
much suffering for the people of the Caribbean;
Mindful of the fact that CNCDs may be prevented and
even reversed in an environment supportive of healthy lifestyles,
based on regular physical activity, healthy eating and weight
control, avoidance of alcohol abuse, tobacco consumption and
exposure to tobacco smoke;
Conscious that healthy living, which prevents or delays
the development of the CNCDs, requires the independent and
collaborative efforts and contributions of all sectors of society
including corporate and civil society, the private sector, policy
makers, community planners, educators, media, health care
providers and administrator, among others;
Aware that there is substantial scientific
evidence regarding the magnitude of the CNCD problem, its causes and
solutions to inform our actions to reduce risk factors for CNCDs and
improve the management of these diseases throughout the age spectrum.
Acknowledging that many circumstances of
daily living provide opportunities to pursue healthy living including
workplace, school, places of worship, the community and the home;
Sensitive to the fact that civil society
has at its disposal a variety of useful tools to mobilize society and
drive change, such as advocacy, coalition building, service delivery
programs, and resource mobilization that can be applied effectively to
address the CNCDs epidemic;
Noting that civil society organizations
have a strong record of providing services and public education, and
have traditional linkages with people in the community that can be
harnessed to effect behavior change; and
Recognizing the significant leadership
given by the Heads of Government of CARICOM countries as demonstrated
at the Port-of-Spain Summit on CNCDs in September 2007 and the Summit
Declaration “Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic Non-communicable
Diseases,” which recognized the role of civil society, private sector,
and other social actors and international partners.
We declare our commitment to contribute
actively, at the personal, family, organization, community, national,
regional and global levels, to avoid, delay and reverse the further
development of CNCDs through the following:
Support fully the CARICOM Heads of Government Declaration of
Port-of-Spain: “Uniting to stop the epidemic of CNCDs”;
Establish a Caribbean Civil Society coalition for tackling CNCDS
in the areas of advocacy and coalition building, public education
and media campaigns, provision of services, and monitoring and
evaluation, before, or as soon as possible after the 31st December
2008; support existing country level networks/coalitions where they
exist, and promote their development by June 2009, where they do
not; and encourage the establishment of National Commissions for
Chronic Non Communicable Diseases in all countries of the Caribbean;
Advocate for and participate actively in partnerships between
civil society, government and the business/corporate sector in
developing and implementing strategies for preventing and managing
CNCDs nationally and regionally;
Advocate for policies and strategic targeted programs to prevent
and control CNCDs and risk factors, mindful of gender, youth and
issues affecting the elderly;
Promote physical activity through population based actions and
policy change to create environments that facilitate physical
activity among all sectors of the population, including effective
spatial planning and design, guidelines, daily school physical
education, workplace programs, among others;
Promote healthier diets by encouraging the availability of
affordable and nutritious foods, preferably locally grown, banning
trans fats, reducing salt, harmful fats and sugar in Caribbean
diets, establishing regional standards for food labeling and
services, encouraging breast feeding, and protecting children and
society’s other vulnerable groups, through legislative, educational,
health promotional and other measures;
Seek the full implementation of the Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control (FCTC), following the recommendations of the
Conferences of the Parties, in those countries that have ratified
this treaty, and support ratification in those that have not;
Promote reduction in harmful alcohol use through updated
legislation, policy change and user awareness campaigns;
Foster and lead sustained and well-targeted Caribbean wide
public education and media campaigns ,including annual Caribbean
Wellness Day, to promote prevention, screening and treatment of
CNCDs,
Strengthen screening, early diagnosis, counseling, treatment,
and care for people living with CNCDs and their families, and
support development of such initiatives where they do not exist,
considering the need to provide continuing health education to
health professionals and de-medicalizing healthcare and education
where appropriate;
Hold governments accountable for implementing the Port of Spain
Declaration by encouraging and publicizing the monitoring and
evaluation of efforts and results towards the prevention and control
of CNCDs as well as promoting collaboration on risk factor
surveillance and other research approaches; and
Commit to continued recruitment of civil society signatory
organizations to this Declaration in an
effort to enhance its implementation, strengthening the efficacy of
individual member organizations, and hosting a biennial meeting to
monitor and carry forward commitments made in this declaration.
