PAHO: Around the world, the right to health of millions is increasingly coming under threat. 

Diseases and disasters loom large as causes of death and disability. 

Conflicts are devastating lives, causing death, pain, hunger and psychological distress. 

The burning of fossil fuels is simultaneously driving the climate crisis and taking away our right to breathe clean air, with indoor and outdoor air pollution claiming a life every 5 seconds.

The WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All has found that at least 140 countries recognize health as a human right in their constitution. Yet countries are not passing and putting into practice laws to ensure their populations are entitled to access health services. This underpins the fact that at least 4.5 billion people — more than half of the world’s population — were not fully covered by essential health services in 2021. 

To address these types of challenges, the theme for World Health Day 2024 is 'My health, my right’.

In 2024, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and Healthy Caribbean Youth (HCY) launched ‘Our Health, Our Right – A Rights-Based Childhood Obesity Prevention Agenda for the Caribbean’, a tool for young people seeking to advocate for urgent government action on the epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity in the Caribbean using a rights-based lens.

HCY: In an age dominated by screens and sedentary lifestyles, the call for physical activity has never been more urgent, especially for our school-age children. The mental, physical and cognitive benefits of physical activity have been unequivocally proven. Yet there remains a glaring deficit in physical activity opportunities within schools, particularly in regions like the Caribbean, including Jamaica, where the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) looms large over public health systems. If implemented as intended, the proposed Jamaica School Nutrition Policy could help to facilitate more physical activity opportunities for generations to come.

L to R: Dr Lynora Drigo, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dominica; Hon. Dr Cassandra Williams, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Dominica; and Ms Helen Royer, Director, Human Development, Directorate of Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat during the virtual COHSOD

Photo: CARICOM

CARICOM: In a powerful display of unity and commitment, CARICOM Ministers of Health collectively endorsed the proposed “Caribbean Moves” (CM) framework and implementation plan. They also expressed their support for including the initiative under the current standard Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) agenda item for subsequent Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) Health meetings.

Join us for an insightful webinar titled "Developing Your NGO's Brand Identity," featuring guest speakers from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Let's Unpack It, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Antigua and Barbuda.

Throughout the session, our experts will delve into crucial topics to help your organization establish a strong brand presence and effectively communicate your mission. The session will cover essential aspects such as an Introduction to Branding, strategies for developing your NGO’s brand and telling your story, and techniques for reaching your target audience through effective targeting and engagement. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your NGO's branding efforts and make a lasting impact in your community.

The event is open to all civil society organizations