June 24 - June 30 2013

HCC Feature

Get to know the HCC

NAME - Ian Pitts
AGE - 50
NATIONALITY - English

WHY HCC? - in 2008 I worked on the original Healthy Caribbean conference website and then continued to work voluntarily on the site as it transformed into the Healthy Caribbean Coalition. My role has evolved over the years and in March 2013 I became a part-time member of the HCC team as IT Co-ordinator.

WHAT I DO - I basically deal with anything relating to electronic media. Primarily I administer the HCC website, but my role can be anything from mail merges in MS Office to coding webpages to creating this newsletter. I was a late starter in IT despite being told by my Maths teacher at school that I had the logical brain for computing, I laughed at her, but 17 years later I was a mature student at university studying .. computing.

WHAT DOES BEING PART OF HCC MEAN TO ME? I believe that with all the information that we have at our disposal today, no-one should be unaware of the dangers of NCD's. When my parents started to smoke in the fifties it was cool, they didn't know that ultimately it would kill them both, now everyone should know that what they can do to live a longer healthier life

The Caribbean Cervical Cancer E-Petition is featured in the NCD Child Issues Paper: Young People, Harnessing the Culture of Technology.

NCD child will be launching this Issues Paper, packed full of interesting case studies from across the globe, at the International Telecommunication Union-(ITU-IFPMA) Ministerial Roundtable Breakfast, ‘Mobile Worlds, Mobile Actions – mHealth: The Opportunity for NCDs’ – Palais des Nations, Geneva, 2 July 2013.

The theme of the 2013 United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Annual Ministerial Review (AMR) is ‘Science, technology and innovation, and the potential of culture, for promoting sustainable development and achieving the MDGs’.

Click on the following links:

• The Issues Paper: Young People, Harnessing the Culture of Technology
• HCC e-petition Cervical Cancer e-petition feature
• More about NCD Child and ECOSOC
• More about ITU-IFPMA Ministerial Roundtable Breakfast, ‘Mobile Worlds, Mobile Actions – mHealth: The Opportunity for NCDs’
• The International Telecommunication Union
• International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations IFMPA

News Roundup

Jamaica Gov't to ban smoking in public places as of July 15 - Jamaica Gleaner - Smoking will be banned in public places as of July 15, health minister Dr Fenton Ferguson announced in parliament a short while ago. The minister said smoking will be banned in all enclosed places, public transportation, workplaces, government buildings, health facilities, sports, athletics and recreational facilities, educational facilities, areas specifically for use by children and places of collective use such as bus stop. Read more

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica Congratulates Government on passage of tobacco regulation. - The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) wishes to congratulate the Government of Jamaica and in particular, the Ministry of Health on the enactment of the long awaited Public Health (Tobacco Control) Regulations-2013 which among other things will support the establishment of smoke free public spaces and the placement of graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. Read more

The The Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control Congratulates Government on passage of tobacco regulation - The Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control (JCTC) is most pleased to extend congratulations to the Government of Jamaica and in particular, the Ministry of Health over the welcome news that on June 25th, The Public Health (Tobacco Control) Regulations - 2013 was enacted to support establishment of smoke free public spaces and the placement of graphic health warnings on cigarette packs have been enacted. Read more

The Barbados Association of Palliative Care - Public Lecture - Ethics: The Final Decision; Moral, Legal, Personal, Compassionate?” “THE CONVERSATION”. Taking place on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at The Church of God – Salters, St. George 6.30 - 8.30 p.m. Panelists: Dr. Gillian Birchwood – Neonatologist, Dr. Anne-Marie Hassell - Pulmonologist Mrs. Fiona Leacock - Clinical Risk Manager, Mr. David Ellis - Journalist, Moderator. FREE ADMISSION - ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.

Global Campaigns Update: Recap of OWG 4 discussions on health - UN Member States met this week for the Fourth Session of the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals in New York, nearly one year to the day since Rio+20 conceptualised the SDG process. Members of the OWG, other Member States, and relevant stakeholders including civil society, discussed two themes: “Employment and decent work for all, social protection, youth, education and culture” and “health and population dynamics.” Read more

Barbados National Registry - Who's Having a Heart Attacks & Strokes? Findings from the Barbados National registry 2010. Wednesday July 10th, 2013 7pm. Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two mile Hill St. Michael. Feature presentation. Ms. Angela Rose, Director BNR. 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 Features - Previously featured Members, events and news can now be found on our HCC Featured webpage here

Healthy Caribbean Coalition