Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference a Big Success

With some 850 delegates, 50 sponsors and 40 exhibitors, this year’s national Healthcare Conference was the largest since the annual event began five years ago. Organisers Tower marketing said the key to the success of the Healthcare Conference is the objective to make real and tangible differences in the health and wellness of the people of the Cayman Islands. Focusing on non-communicable diseases and helping to educate people to healthier lifestyles the health minister Osbourne Bodden said government is committed to helping improve health and the conference does much to educate and inform attendees on the many different ways in which they can make improvements. Read more

Visit the Conference website www.healthcareconference.ky.

Dame Billie supports IMF soft drink tax suggestion

Former deputy prime minister of Barbados Dame Billie Miller is backing an International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommendation that Government impose a tax on soft drinks.Describing the beverages as “just sugar water”, Dame Billie told Barbados TODAY the drinks were contributing to the high level of diabetes in the country. She acknowledged that the move could affect local manufacturers, but said the health of the Barbadians was more important. The recommendation to levy the tax at a standard rate was made by the IMF as part of revenue generating measures in a report on Barbados’ tax system. Read more

Two weeks – that’s all that stands between us and the first-ever Universal Health Coverage Day

GET THE TOOLKIT: Visit UniversalHealthCoverageDay.org to download our first Communications & Advocacy Toolkit! Inside you’ll find key messages and 12 ways to build momentum for 12.12.14.

• Show your solidarity.
• Formally declare your support.
• Make #healthforall trend.
• Invite your networks to join the movement.
• Link health for all to the issues you care about.
• Support #healthforall in our virtual photo booth here.
• Show the human side of UHC.
• Promote powerful quotes about UHC.
• Time important announcements to 12 December.
• Talk to media.
• Talk to policymakers.
• Spearhead an event.

Read more

Portion Sizes and Beyond - Government's Legal Authority to Regulate Food-Industry Practices

The importance of obesity as a public health problem has led to a number of proposed policy solutions, some of which - such as taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages — are highly controversial and have been opposed strongly by the food industry. One such measure is the proposal by the New York City Department of Health, supported by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, to prohibit sugar-sweetened beverages from being sold in containers larger than 16 oz by restaurants, movie theaters, and mobile food vendors (venues where the health department has jurisdiction).This action and others that affect business practices of the food industry are likely to be challenged in the courts in cases that raise an important question. Does government have the legal authority to regulate the conduct of the food industry in this way? This question of authority applies to many policies that might be considered in the future - policies regarding, for example, the placement of items in supermarkets, children's access to certain foods, and the banning of harmful products (e.g., caffeinated alcohol drinks). Read more.

Brazilian Minister of Health: "ICN2 is an unquestionable success"

20 November 2014, Rome - Brazilian Minister of Health, Arthur Chioro, congratulated FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva for the “unquestionable success” of the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2). “I applaud the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) because they organized an event that will be a landmark for issues related to food security and nutrition,” said Chioro, after meeting with the Director-General on the sidelines of ICN2. Read more

The Rome Declaration on Nutrition

The second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) is expected to endorse a political outcome document, the Rome Declaration on Nutrition and an accompanying technical Framework for Action to guide its implementation. The Declaration commits countries to eradicate hunger and prevent all forms of malnutrition worldwide – particularly undernutrition in children, anaemia in women and children, among other micronutrient deficiencies – as well as reverse the trend in obesity. It aims to do this by increasing investments in food systems to improve people’s diets and nutrition. The Framework proposes the creation of an enabling environment for effective action and for strengthening sustainable food systems, including through investments in pro-poor agriculture and smallholder agriculture to improve diets and raise levels of nutrition; nutrition education and information; social protection; strengthened health systems for addressing specific conditions; improved water, sanitation and hygiene; and improved food safety. Read more

WHO Nutrition Target Infographics

In support of the WHO nutrition target policy briefs, 1,000 Days has developed a complementary infographic series, highlighting the key messages and recommendations to achieve each WHA nutrition target. Read more

Funding Opportunity Announcement for Cancer Research in the Caribbean

Deadline for submission of grant proposals is December 1, 2014, Proposals are to be submitted to neptunja@carpha.org, please copy all submissions to martinda@mail.nih.gov.Receipt of submissions will be acknowledged. If you do not receive acknowledgement within three (3) days of submission, please contact us at neptunja@carpha.org or 868-622-4261. Read more

Half a million new cancers in 2012 due to overweight and obesity. Proportion of obesity-related cancers higher in women

Lyon, France, 26 November 2014 - A new study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC), the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), shows that nearly half a million new cancer cases per year can be attributed to high body mass index (BMI). The study, published today in The Lancet Oncology, highlights that overweight and obesity have become a major risk factor, responsible for an estimated 3.6% (481 000) of all new cancer cases in 2012. Striking global disparities. Global analysis shows that cancer due to overweight and obesity is currently far more common in more developed countries (393 000 cases, 5.2% of all new cancer cases in these countries) than in less developed countries (88 000 cases, 1.5% of all new cancer cases in these countries). North America remains the most affected, with an estimated 111 000 obesity-related cancers in 2012, accounting for 23% of the total global cancer burden linked to high BMI. Read more

NCD Alliance Webinar Wednesday 17th December - The NCD Alliance will be holding our next webinar on Wednesday 17th December at 10:00 – 11:30 am EST/16:00 – 17:30 CET. Please note that there will be only one webinar broadcast. The powerpoint slides and recording will be made available on the NCD Alliance website after the webinar. the webinar will be discussing:

• Updates on the Global Coordination Mechanism (GCM)
• Outcomes from the 2nd International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2)
• Outcomes from the World Cancer Congress
• UNICEF Facts for Life Chapter consultation process
• Looking ahead to 2015

In addition participants can to submit questions prior to the webinar by emailing us at info@ncdalliance.org by 15th December. Participants will also be able to send questions and feedback during the webinar. Register here

Our most popular recent articles in case you missed them

• Healthy Caribbean Youth4NCDs (HCC)
• NOURISHING Framework (World Cancer Research Fund)
• Caribbean Civil Society - Health Systems Strengthening Meeting 2014 (HCC)
• Burger containing 98 per cent of a woman's recommended daily calorie allowance criticised (The Independent Online)
• Trinidad and Tobago coalition for tobacco control on track (NCD Alliance)

NCD Articles on WebMD

• See What Happens During a Heart Attack - A visual guide offers a detailed look at what goes on as a heart attack unfolds. Learn the causes, symptoms, and more. Read more
• Surprising Facts About Movie Snacks - Think you know how many calories are in that popcorn, candy, and soda? Think again. Read more
• See What Prostate Cancer Looks Like - After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer men get. Learn about the symptoms and find out how it's treated. Read more
• Support for Men With Cancer - Men often cope by retreating - but connecting with others can really help. 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.