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July 8 - July 21 2013

Healthy Caribbean Weekly News Roundup
Healthy Caribbean Coalition

HCC Feature

The Commonwealth Medical Association: "Unlocking the Power of the Commonwealth"

Dr. Lynda Williams made a presentation on behalf of the HCC The 23rd Triennial Meeting of the Commonwealth Medical Association, held in Trinidad and Tobago on July 4-7, 2013, was entitled "Unlocking the Power of the Commonwealth".

This meeting was held in conjunction with the Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association and was addressed by the Hon. Mr. Fuad Khan, Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. Lynda Williams made a presentation on behalf of the HCC on Get the Message: A Caribbean Advocacy and Sensitising Campaign Using Mobile Phones and Social Media in Support of the UNHLM on NCDs, Sept 2011. The presentation was well received. Dr. Williams also described current mHealth and eHealth initiatives being undertaken by the HCC including the Caribbean Cervical Cancer E-Petition. The Commonwealth Medical Association

Healthy Caribbean Coalition

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United Nations agrees to establish a UN Task Force on NCDs Formalisation of UN Task Force on NCDs - We are pleased to report another milestone in the global response to NCDs. Today, Member States unanimously adopted ECOSOC resolution E/2013/L23, formally establishing the United Nations Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of NCDs. This resolution was co-sponsored by 110 Member State across all regions, demonstrating the widespread support for this Task Force. Read more

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News Roundup

St. Maarten Public Health Minister signs the End Cervical Cancer e-Petition

The Honourable V. H. Cornelius de Weever signing the e-petition The Honourable V. H. Cornelius de Weever, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor St. Maarten has signed the 'End Cervical Cancer Now e-Petition'.

Keoma Hamer of KeLaHa Projects-Beyond Barriers was present to help and witness the signing. The Honourable Minister asks that all Caribbean people visit www.endcervicalcancernow.org and sign the petition.

 

Stakeholders strategise ways of fighting chronic diseases

Stakeholders strategise ways of fighting chronic diseases Leading medical experts and policymakers from across the world gathered in Kigali to tackle non-communicable diseases like cancer and heart disease. The Ministry of Health in collaboration with Partners in Health organised the two day inaugural meeting of the Non-communicable Diseases Synergies Network to focus the fight against NCDs in low and middle income countries. Key speakers included Sir George Alleyne, Director Emeritus of PAHO and Patron of the HCC.

The conference gathered policymakers, healthcare providers, and NCD experts from 18 countries to collaborate to explore ways to fight NCDs. According to World Health Organisation, NCDs kill more than 36 million people each year and nearly 80% of NCD deaths – 29 million – occur in low and middle income countries. Sir George Alleyne said that technical cooperation between countries is vital to fight NCDs through strategic planning, implementation and advocacy, He also highlighted some lessons learned and best practices. The NCD Synergies Network was borne of a UN General Assembly mandate following a September 2011 United Nations High Level Meeting on NCDs. The network is an attempt to bring together low income countries, to foster south-south collaboration, share best practices and increase technical cooperation that would lead to all countries having a strategic plan based on common policy and strategies by the end of 2013. Read more

Healthy initiative - (Barbados Advocate 21st July 2013) By the end of this year, vaccines to prevent cervical cancer will be included in the national immunisation schedule. Word of this has come from Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Joy St. John. The Chief Medical Officer announced the Ministry of Health’s intention, as she explained that they are in complete support of universal access of preteens to vaccination for the prevention of cervical cancer. Read more

HPV virus 'linked to third of throat cancer cases' - (BBC News) One third of people diagnosed with throat cancer are infected with a form of the HPV virus, a study suggests. HPV (human papillomavirus) is the major cause of cervical cancer, and the virus is known to spread through genital or oral contact. Actor Michael Douglas is reported to have spoken about the link after his own diagnosis with throat cancer. Read more

UNESCO and UNICEF “My World, My SIDS” SID Youth conference

Eighteen youth leaders from across the Caribbean Eighteen youth leaders from across the Caribbean met in Kingston, Jamaica during the week of June 20th, 2013 for the UNESCO and UNICEF “My World, My SIDS” SID Youth conference.

Selected young people had a chance to participate in the preparation process for the SIDS 2014 global meeting by presenting youth voices at the regional and inter-regional preparatory meetings. Caribbean youth leaders were able to discuss the challenges for Caribbean SIDS from a youth perspective and provide proposals for the post 2015 development agenda and next strategy for sustainable development in SIDS Regions.

St. Maarten was represented by Keoma Hamer, Founder/ Present of The KeLaHa Projects whose aim is to bring social change within the community by meeting the basic needs of our people by means of providing educational initiatives, youth development programs and health care awareness. Read more about Keoma Hamer and SIDS

Smoking ban takes effect today July 15th - Jamaica today joins fellow Caribbean Community (Caricom) states Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, as well as countries in Europe, Canada and the United States, in instituting a ban on smoking in enclosed and specifically prescribed public spaces. Read more

Pro health marches as smoking ban takes effect Jamaica - Several organisations are now marching in three towns across Jamaica in support of the ban on smoking in public places. The marches began around 8 a.m. in Morant Bay, St Thomas; Half-Way Tree, St Andrew; and Montego Bay, St James. The march is organised by the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control and the Jamaica Cancer Society. Read more

Australian model Nikki Phillips opens about cervical cancer diagnosis that 'turned her world upside down' - Australian model and TV star Nikki Phillips has opened up for the first time about her cancer diagnosis which turned her world 'upside down'. The New Zealand-born, Sydney-based 29-year-old was diagnosed with stage three cervical cancer in 2009, after a routine Pap smear came back irregular. 'My doctor informed me that the results of my test had come back irregular,' Miss Phillips revealed in an essay for Australia's Cleo magazine. 'Then she simply said, “You know, I am just going to get straight to the point. You’ve got cervical cancer." Read more

Global Campaigns Update: Deadline for post-2015 civil society consultations; Economist Event on NCDs; ICN2 Prep July 12th - Today is the last day to submit comments to the UN-NGLS civil society consultation on the four recent reports on the post-2015 development agenda. While all of the reports discuss health and NCDs, there are some significant areas for improvement in each narrative and recommended framework, including proposed goals and targets. Read more

PAHO/WHO Celebrates Implementation of New Tobacco Control Legislation in Jamaica Kingston, Jamaica (TDN) - The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is celebrating the entry into force of new tobacco control regulations in Jamaica on July 15. Read More

Guidelines on cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccines not followed (amednews.com)Less than a third of obstetrician-gynecologists vaccinate eligible patients against the human papilloma virus, and only half follow cervical cancer prevention guidelines, according to research published in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 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

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