January 22 - January 28 2014

HCC Feature

Jamaica Cancer Society Targets 500 Women For Pap Smear Screening

The Jamaica Cancer Society in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be screening 500 of Jamaica’s most needy and vulnerable women for cervical cancer over the next two months. These women are being selected from within the PATHE programme, the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, the Jamaica Council for Senior Citizens, and the National Family Planning Board. This programme is in keeping with the Cancer Society’s mission to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in Jamaica, and is made possible through a grant received from the Healthy Caribbean Coalition and the Australian Direct Aid Program. Read more about the HCC and the Australian Direct Aid Project here

“We are grateful for this opportunity to serve these women, through acts of screening and public health education ”, shared Yulit Gordon, Executive Director, Jamaica Cancer Society. “Far too many of our Jamaican women are dying in their most productive years from cervical cancer, which is one of the most preventable cancers”, Gordon continued. “We are hoping for a positive outcome in identifying any abnormal cells early so that effective treatment can take place, and lives saved”.

Research has shown that medically underserved women have higher cervical cancer mortality rates. This is attributed to under-screening and disproportionate rates of late-stage disease at diagnosis. Cancer of the cervix continues to be the second most common cancer among women worldwide, with over ½ million new cases and ¼ million deaths per year. Latin America and the Caribbean are among those countries that have the highest burden of cervical cancer. The incidence here in Jamaica is 27.9 per 100,000 with a death rate of 15.8 per 100,000. 95% of these cervical cancer deaths could have been prevented through a simple pap smear test. A high percentage of these women have never had a pap smear. The Jamaica Cancer Society screened over 7,000 women islandwide in 2013 and is hoping to significantly increase this number in 2014.

News Roundup

Teal Army rallies support for Cervical Cancer Awareness - Providing free lectures, limited free Pap smears, the formation of a Teal Army and hosting a Teal Day were just some of the amazing initiatives conducted by The Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society for Cervical Cancer Awareness month. The Society’s Education and Communications Officer Ms. Kimlin Harrilal notes that the twin island has really rallied around the cause, helping to increase awareness and encourage screening. Read more

Face of the District - Childhood Cancer Campaign - On Wednesday January 22, 2014, members of the District Childhood Cancer Campaign (CCC) Committee represented Governor Nutilia Simon and the Caribbean District at a Reception following the Annual Paediatric Cancer Conference 2014, held at the UWI Mona Visitor's Lodge. The invitation to this post-Conference Reception was extended by the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC), a major stakeholder in the Jamaica childhood cancer treatment and care, and one of its partners in the effort to improve the outcome of cancer care for children, the volunteer group Jamaicans Abroad Helping Jamaicans At Home (JAHJAH) Foundation. Read More

Please share any activities you have planned for the month that you would like us to highlight. We would appreciate a short paragraph summarising your planned activities including your partners and promotional materials.

Hearts of Children Fundraiser

The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados held a Hearts of Children fundraising British themed dinner on Saturday 25th January, at the official residence of the British High Commissioner. WIth a backdrop of red, white & blue David Neilands former Marketing Manager of Super Centre gave an excellent keynote address on NCDs across the Caribbean. There was an auction, a raffle and the entertainment was provided by British rock and pop legend Sir Cliff Richard. He brought the house down with an up close and personal set of his popular songs. Read more

Barbados Cancer Support Services, invites all men - especially over the age of Thirty-five to our Prostate Specific Antigen (P.S.A. Testing). Saturday, February 15th, 2014, at Cancer Support Services “Arborside” Belmont Road, St. Michael. between 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. No appointments necessary just Walk in, a small fee of $55.00 will be charged.Please encourage your male relatives and friends to come out and be proactive in looking after their health.Any enquiries? Call (246) 228-7081. Learn more about what a PAS test is here

TTCS - Our Aim is early detection it is the best protection - By By Akilah Holder Trinidad Express. “The list of services that the TTCS offers is extremely long,” Harrilal stated. “We have an education and communications department which is responsible for health fairs throughout Trinidad and Tobago where we go out to the various health fairs and set up educational booths, distribute flyers, give information, etc. Free lectures are also provided on request from organisations, youth groups or community groups and these lectures may cover the different types of cancer, as well as the harmful effects of tobacco and second hand smoke,” she noted. Read more

Barbados Cancer Support Services Tea Party - Barbados Yacht Club, Bay Street, St. Michael Staurday 12th April 2014. 3pm-6pm. Read more

NCD Alliance Alert - 2014 UN NCD Review and Assessment Official preparations for the 2014 NCD Review are underway. Similar to the 2011 High-level Meeting on NCDs, this preparatory process is critical in determining the success of the Review. The co-facilitators for the Review, Jamaica and Belgium, met with delegations this week in New York to informally discuss the Review modalities. Read more

NCD Articles on WebMD

• Asthma Myths and Facts - Can getting mad trigger an asthma attack? Will kids outgrow asthma?.Read more
• The Truth About Type 2 - Learn warning signs of low blood sugar, ideal A1c levels, how alcohol can affect your glucose, and more. Read more
• The Right Way to Check Your BP - Are you checking your blood pressure correctly? See exactly when and how to do it. Read more
• The Smart Way to Lose Weight - Find out how the S.M.A.R.T. approach to setting goals can help you lose weight and control your diabetes. 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

HCC Featured - Previously featured Members, events and news can now be found on our HCC Featured webpage here

Healthy Caribbean Coalition