HCC pays courtesy visit to His Excellency the Honourable Anthony Carmona President of Trinidad and Tobago

The President and Directors of the HCC had the honour of a meeting with His Excellency in Trinidad on March 18th, 2014. Following on from the HCCs earlier visit this year with His Excellency The Honourable Charles Angelo Savarin, President of Dominica, this meeting was part of HCC's ongoing commitment to cultivating relationships with regional leadership in order to gain buy-in and commitment to NCD related action at the highest levels.

Sir Trevor and His Excellency, accompanied by HCC Directors Dr. Victor Coombs and Ms. Joanne DeFreitas engaged in a lively and passionate discussion around chronic disease in Trinidad and in the Caribbean and the need for governments to strengthen collaborations with civil society. His Excellency drew on his vast experience as an Attorney-at-Law and a former judge to highlight the importance of a “whole of government” and “whole of society” approach to combating NCDs. His Excellency shared the depth of the passion that his office was bringing to this area by highlighting the work of Her Excellency as patron of the Diabetes Association of Trinidad & Tobago.

The HCC was struck by His Excellency’s considerable interest and commitment to chronic diseases in general, and to the youth, in particular, and to the determinants of those diseases and their consequences, and His Excellency’s willingness to lead both Nationally and Regionally in contributing to the response to the epidemic of these diseases. The HCC looks forward to continued leadership of His Excellency and Her Excellency in this critical area of human development.

A Civil Society Regional Status Report: Responses to NCDs in the Caribbean Community

On Thursday March 20th, 2014 the Healthy Caribbean Coalition officially launched: A Civil Society Regional Status Report: Responses to NCDs in the Caribbean Community.

This project, the completion of a Regional Status Report from the perspective of Civil Society, is part of the work of the NCD Alliance’s programme, ‘Strengthening Health Systems, Supporting NCD Action’ which aims to support and strengthen civil society NCD advocacy efforts in Brazil, South Africa and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) is the “National Implementing Partner” for the Caribbean in the implementation of this project funded by Medtronic Philanthropy.

The purpose of this report is to understand and assess the Caribbean response to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), from a civil society perspective. The findings and the emerging call to action will serve as an evidence-base, and platform, from which a more empowered civil society can better influence and complement regional and national NCD policies and programmes. This document represents an important regional resource which can be used by national governments and regional entitites as an evidence base for priority NCD policy and programming and as a roadmap for civil society organsations in the Caribbean to develop targeted NCD advocacy campaigns.

The report is unique in many respects not the least of which is that it represents the first occasion, that CSOs in the Caribbean have come together to produce an in-depth and comprehensive assessment of NCDs as viewed through the lens of civil society. This is an important step in the development of a process and culture that seeks to lead to strong advocacy efforts by the people of the region for improvements in all aspects of health. It is an occasion for celebration by HCC and civil society as we reaffirm our commitment to continue to support the NCD response at organisational, national, regional and global levels in the sixth year of the formation of the HCC - a Caribbean NCD Alliance.

We urge you to share this important occasion for the NCD response in the Caribbean within your networks. Click here for the Official Press Release and here for the Executive Summary of the Report. For more photos from the launch of the RSR click here

NCD Child meeting a success on all fronts - The HCC was immensely proud to have been a part of the NCD Child conference and we would like to thank the organisers, Dr. Kate Armstrong, her team and the TT Ministry of Health for a fantastic meeting which has underscored the need for a greater focus on NCDs and children in the Caribbean. This was also an opportunity for the HCC to launch the NCDA Regional Status Report, share our other work and to connect with our members in Trinidad and Tobago. To see more images from the conference click here

President's Youth Ambassadors highlight the importance of youth engagement in the NCD fight

Could this be the beginning of youth led NCD advocacy in TT? The President, His Excellency Anthony Carmona is committed to young people and using his office to positively impact on the personal development of young Trinidadians. Eight bright future leaders were selected to represent his Excellency as Youth Ambassadors at the NCD Child Conference in TT (March 20/21, 2014). These students had the opportunity to spend the full day at the conference learning about NCDs and children and more importantly reflecting on the role they can play to effect change.

Listen to 15 year old Leighla W. (pictured right) of Bishops Antsey High School in TT as she shares her thoughts on participating in the NCD Child meeting Listen here

You can also hear from Venessa D. a student at St. Francois Girls in TT here and Jonathon A, of Fatimah College TT here.

To see pictures of the President's Ambassadors at the NCD Child Conference click here

Youth NCD Champions Chart the way forward - sharing their their unique experiences, perspectives and their passion to raise the profile of NCDs and young people in the Caribbean. Krystal Boyea and Romel Kimkeran are both young people living with Type I Diabetes. Along with other international youth champions including 16 year old UK based George Dove, they bravely shared their unique experiences highlighting the central importance of the youth voice and perspective. While speaking to the NCD Child delegates, Ms. Boyea urged the NCD community to begin engaging young people living with NCDs to participate in these conferences rather than just speak at them. Romel, a peer-counsellor at DATT (Diabetes Association of Trinidad & Tobago) diabetes camp, and champion cricketer in TT proudly said that 'Diabetes would not stop him from achieving his dreams'.

HCC pays courtesy visit to Australian High Commission funding agency of the C4PI to discuss the work done to date on the C4PI
The Caribbean Civil Society Cervical Cancer Prevention Initiatives. While in TT, the Australian High Commission hosted an evening with attendees of the NCD Child conference. The dinner was used as an opportunity to showcase the activities in the countries to date.

For more information on the HCC/Aus DAP initiatives please Click here

NCD Alliance E-Alert - HCC launches regional Civil Society Status Report - NCD Child Conference 2014 - Experts gathered in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, for the 2014 NCD Child Conference, an event focused on "Doing what needs to be done" to improve the focus and actions for children and youth at risk or living with NCDs. HCC launches regional Civil Society Status Report As part of the NCD Child Conference, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) today introduced its Civil Society Regional Status Report, “Responses to NCDs in the Caribbean Community”. Read more

Sharryl Spence Youth Tobacco Advocate from Jamaica
Sharryl Spence is a final year student currently concluding her reading for a Bachelor of Science in Experimental Biology at the region’s tertiary institution, The University of the West Indies. Through the efforts of the Jamaica Cancer Society’s Kick Butts programme, Sharryl became an active youth advocate against tobacco smoking and the industry, during her enrolment as a student at the prestigious Campion College located in Kingston, Jamaica. She presented at the the recent NCD Child Conference in Trinidad and Tobago - See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil: the 21st century movement towards Caribbean youth empowerment. Read more

Caribbean countries urged to adopt regional food-labeling rules - Caribbean Community countries are being urged to establish regional standards for "clear, consistent, food labeling" and to limit, if not ban, the marketing of fast food and sugary drinks to children. The recommendations are contained in an 80-page report released at the Second International Conference on Non-Communicable Diseases of Children and Adolescents, a two-day event hosted by Trinidad and Tobago. The report, prepared by the Health Caribbean Coalition, notes that while countries in the region have played a significant role in responding to the impact of non-communicable diseases, or NCDs, among young people, “there are no national policies against advertising of unhealthy foods to children”. Read more and here

59TH ANNUAL CARPHA HEALTH RESEARCH CONFERENCE - 3 days before the Deadline- MARCH 28, 2014 (Early registration and Hotel reservations) If you will be attending this year's Conference and have not yet registered, please proceed to the website: http://conference.carpha.org/ and complete the online registration form. Early registration ends on March 28, 2014. Late registration fee - US$400. Also available on the website are details on registration fees for the Conference (delegates/students) and the "Data Analysis using Epi InFO 7^®" Workshop.

Cervical Cancer Is On the Rise in the Caribbean (Part 1) - By: Roslyn A. Douglas, MA, Founder of Central Health – Grenada. According to Professor Sir Trevor Hassell President of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) approximately 6 deaths per day in the Caribbean are caused by cervical cancer, and efforts are on the way to raise awareness. Read more

International Bat Auction and Banquet - Dine with the Cricket Legends of Barbados on March 30th 2014 at 4pm at the Cricket Legends, Fontabelle, St. Michael, Bid for a Sachin Tendulkar bast, dine with a Legend of your choice. Read more

WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic 2013 - Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship - The continued success in global tobacco control is detailed in this year’s WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2013. The fourth in the series, this year’s report presents the status of the MPOWER measures, with country-specific data updated and aggregated through 2012. In addition, the report provides a special focus on legislation to ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) in WHO Member States and an in-depth analyses of TAPS bans were performed, allowing for a more detailed understanding of progress and future challenges in this area. Read more

BBC Radio - Obesity Debate - a series of programmes about the global obesity epidemic

• The cost of obesity - We examine the cost of obesity and different policies aimed at cutting it down. We hear reports from China and India as well as an interview with Paul Bulcke the CEO of Nestle. We also speak to Dr. Francesco Branca, Director of Nutrition for Health and Development at the World Health Organisation. Listen here
• Taxing the Fat - Should we tax food that's bad for us? Using laws to make people healthier. We hear from our reporter Marie Keyworth about Denmark's fat tax experiment and ask whether such a system could work anywhere else. Listen here
• Can we Trust Food Companies to Tackle Obesity? - Can we trust food companies to tackle obesity or do governments need to do more? We hear both sides of the argument - from those who think the industry's doing its bit to help consumers cut calories and from those who claim firms are flooding developing countries with high-sugar, high-fat food and drink. Listen here
• Is Exercise the Best Way to Tackle Obesity? - Is exercise the best way to tackle obesity? We ask what governments can do to encourage more physical activity. Listen here

National Taskforce on Physical Activity and Exercise presents EXercise IN THE CITY - World Health Day 2014, Monday April 7th, 5pm - 7pm Independence Square, Bridgetown, bring your water, your towel and your friends. Read more

NCD Articles on WebMD

• Diabetes-Friendly Breakfast Ideas - Discover 3 delicious recipes and learn how to control carbs, get enough protein, and make healthier choices. Read more
• 11 Ideas for Heart-Smart Meals - To keep your ticker in top shape, make heart-savvy choices at every meal. That means keeping a few principles in mind. 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