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October 30 - Nov 5 2013

Healthy Caribbean Weekly News Roundup
Healthy Caribbean Coalition

HCC Feature

Jamaica Cancer Society creates an e-advocacy buzz in Peru

Jamaica Cancer Society creates an e-buzz in Peru Executive Director of the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) shared experiences of the HCC-led Caribbean Cervical Cancer Electronic Petition (CCCEP) at The 5th International Cancer Control Congress, in Lima, Peru. The abstract 'Creating a Civil Society Led Cervical Cancer Advocacy Movement - The Caribbean Cervical Cancer Electronic Petition' was accepted for Oral Presentation in September 2013 and Mrs. Gordon was selected to represent the HCC based on the tremendous efforts of the JCS in promoting the CCCEP in Jamaica.

Ms. Gordon presented in Session 2: MOBILIZING ALL OF SOCIETY FOR EFFECTIVE CANCER CONTROL: Workshop 2.1: Patient advocacy for effective public policy.

Executive Director of the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) Mrs. Yulit Gordon The presentation was extremely well received and spurred on such questions as: What could HCC have done differently?; Why Cervical Cancer?; What do we anticipate after presenting to CARICOM?; and What are we doing in the areas of Breast and Prostate Cancers?. Mrs. Gordon remarked that this was ' her work at the helm of the JCS.

The HCC's support of JCS at this meeting profiles the HCC and the JCS as regional and global leaders in the CSO advocacy movement and demonstrates the value of an NCD alliance such as the HCC in strengthening and highlighting the work of member NCD CSOs.

We are extremely proud of Mrs. Gordon and will continue to seek out opportunities to demonstrate the accomplishments of Caribbean civil society organisations.

What does Advocacy Mean to You?

Healthy Caribbean Coalition

News Roundup

November 14th is World Diabetes Day 2013

Here is a reminder of some of the events taking place in November

World Diabetes Day November 14th 2013 Belize Diabetes Association - "Ride Out Diabetes" - recently highlighted in a summary of forthcoming events on the IDF website - the World Diabetes Day celebrations organised by the Belize Diabetes Association will be "Ride Out Diabetes", a two-day bicycle awareness ride covering 160 miles. The association's activities will culminate on 14 November with a health fair involving schools and the general public. Read more

Barbados Diabetes Foundation Events for Diabetes Month - Take A Step For Diabetes - A free 5K Walk/Run, November 9th, 2013 at 6 a.m.,Starts at the Diabetes Centre, Warrens, St. Michael Read more, it is also holding a panel discussion on World Diabetes Day November 14th at the Grande Salle Central Bank of Barbados 7pm Read more. See the full calendar of events to raise awareness and highlight the growing problem that is Diabetes. here

Diabetes Association of Barbados presents - Silouhettes a Ballroom and Latin Show - Saturday November 9th 2013 7pm at St. Leonards Boys School, Richmond Gap St. Michael. Read more

World Diabetes Congress Melbourne

Officials of Tobago lend their support in the fight against cervical cancer

Officials of Tobago lend their support in the fight against cervical cancer THE Cervical Cancer E-petition requires all out support because cervical cancer can happen to any woman, not to mention those that we care about". This was the message from Counselor Gary Melville, Secretary of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport in Tobago.

Counsellor Melville was addressing secondary school students at the opening ceremony of EduFest at Gulf City Mall Lowlands, Tobago. Sponsored by Republic Bank Limited and hosted by The Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society, EduFest themed "Healthy Lifestyles Today Can Prevent Cancer Tomorrow” is designed to teach young people about healthy lifestyle habits through fun activities. Following his speech he signed the Caribbean Cervical Cancer E-petition asking heads of Government to increase Caribbean women’s access to affordable cervical cancer screening and encouraged others to follow suit. Read more

PAHO - Cancer in the Americas and Country Profiles 2013 - Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the Americas region, where there were an estimated 2.5 million new cancer cases and 1.2 million cancer deaths annually in 2008. The most common cancers in the Region include: prostate, lung, colorectal and stomach cancers in men; and breast, lung, colorectal and cervix cancers in women. With an aging population, and with the epidemiological transition in Latin America and the Caribbean, the cancer burden is projected to increase significantly. Read more

Cancer mortality is declining in some countries of the Americas - new PAHO/WHO report - Nine countries show overall cancer deaths decreasing over the past decade, although certain types of cancer deaths are on the rise. Washington, D.C., 5 November 2013 (PAHO/WHO) — Deaths from cancer are decreasing in some countries of the Americas and for certain kinds of cancer, while deaths from other cancer types are on the rise in the region, according to a new report from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO). Read more

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine NCD Short Course - Issues in Global Non-Communicable Diseases: from research to policy. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - 17 – 21 February 2014. The course will have a Global focus, with experts and examples from a range of settings outside of the UK. Who should attend: Healthcare and public health professionals to policymakers from a range of sectors who are interested in studying and combating NCDs from an interdisciplinary perspective. Read more

PSI Caribbean Quarterly Newsletter: Sept/Oct. 2013 - What an exciting few months we've had at PSI/C. From the military cook off events to the regional radio contest bringing HIV and AIDS awareness to the airwaves, the momentum is flowing at a fast pace in the Caribbean and it looks like there is no slowing down. Highlights - Welcome Sherine Powerful, Caribbean Radio Contest Winners Announced, Cook Off in the Caribbean. Read more

BBC Health Check Radio Snippets BBC Health Check - NCD Radio Snippets

Anti-Cancer Vaccine in Laos Anti-cervical cancer vaccine for girls where there is no screening or radiotherapy. (5 minutes) Listen now

Soft drinks tax Tackling obesity and diabetes through taxing soft drinks. (9 minutes) Listen now

Abstract Submission for CCS 2013 Now Open - The CCS 2013 Conference Planning Committee is now accepting abstracts for presentation at the 2014 Annual Caribbean Cardiology Conference. The CCS Conference is the premier cardiovascular meeting in the Caribbean and one of the region's preeminent medical meetings. We hope you will take the opportunity to participate in what we know will be an educational and engaging learning experience. Read more

Women Deliver will be at the 2013 International Conference on Family Planning Women Deliver will be at the 2013 International Conference on Family Planning - in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Our team is excited to join global health advocates to highlight the importance of family planning and access to contraception. Read more

Plant to help Haiti's peanut farmers opens - PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The nonprofit group of public health pioneer Dr. Paul Farmer and a health care company have teamed up to open a factory to produce a nutritional supplement in the heart of Haiti. The 18,000-square-foot plant in the Caribbean nation’s Central Plateau is making ‘‘Nourimanba,’’ which is used to treat children for severe malnutrition. Read more

WCRF-International Releases Two Publications on Obesity Prevention and Effective Policies for Healthier Diets - World Cancer Research Fund International released two new publications. Law and Obesity Prevention: Addressing some key questions for the public health community and A food policy package for the prevention of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases: the NOURISHING Framework. Both publications share common themes in obesity prevention and advancing the wider implementation of effective policies for healthier diets. Read more

Study: Aspirin Ineffective in 20 Percent of Heart Disease Patients - DENVER - (BUSINESS WIRE> - November 07, 2013 - A major new study conducted in Ireland found that 20 percent of patients with established heart disease were not adequately protected by aspirin. Corgenix Medical Corporation, developers of the AspirinWorks(R) Test for aspirin effect, said the study adds more evidence to the importance of accurately measuring aspirin response by measuring levels of the biomarker thromboxane. Read more

NCD Articles on WebMD

  • A Visual Guide to Heart Disease - See the signs of heart attack and other problems, and learn about prevention and treatment options. Read more
  • Can You Reverse Heart Disease? - You can slow down heart disease, but can you really reverse it? Some experts say you can. Read more
  • Stroke: A Medical Emergency - Learn more about the possible causes of strokes and what symptoms may look like. Read more
  • 15 Cancer Symptoms Men Ignore - Guys are notorious for avoiding the doctor's office. But these cancer symptoms deserve immediate attention. Read more
  • Are Cancer Screening Tests Risky? - Routine cancer screenings can save lives. But they also have the potential to cause serious harm. Read more
  • Why Is Type 2 Diabetes So Serious? - The condition messes with the body's ability to process food for energy which can lead to heart, vision, and nerve damage. Read more
  • How Diabetes Affects Your Eyes - Diabetes raises your risk of retinopathy and other eye problems. Learn warning signs and treatment options. 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
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Healthy Caribbean Coalition

The HCC is a regional network of Caribbean health NGOs and civil society organizations with the remit to combat chronic diseases (NCDs) and their associated risk factors and conditions. Our membership presently consists of more than 50 Caribbean-based health NGOs and over 55 not-for-profit organisations and, in excess of 200 individual members based in the Caribbean and across the globe.

To join the HCC email us at hcc@healthycaribbean.org.

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