As of the date of this news roundup the Global campaign Kick Big Soda out of Sport has garnered the support of 92 Partner organisations and almost 200, 000 individual signatures on their petition. Only 7 of the Partner organisations are from the Caribbean. Let’s increase this number to at least 20! 

You can do this by going to the Kick Big Soda Out of Sport website, scrolling to the bottom of the page and clicking on the link - ‘Become a Partner Organisation’. By clicking on this link, an automatic email is generated with all of the appropriate text. All you need to do is add your organisation’s name, email and country and then hit send! Your CSO will then be added to the growing list of global organisations voicing their opposition to Big Soda funding international sport. 

Closer to home we have been grappling with similar issues of SSB, ultra-processsed products and fast food brands and other unhealthy food and beverage companies funding sports including youth sports such as national primary and secondary school sports. Let’s take a stand with advocates from around the region and the world on this global stage and show the Caribbean’s support for removing Big Soda from sport. 

You can do this by going to the Kick Big Soda Out of Sport website now and become a Partner.

Related Media:

Jamaica Observer: Health experts urge Olympics to cut ties with Coca-Cola

Caribbean News Service: International Olympic Committee Urged to Terminate Big Soda Sponsorship

Image: Antigua Newsroom

Youth ambassador Chrysean Jarvis, with his background in food nutrition and health, emphasizes that SSBs contribute significantly to health issues, including cardiovascular diseases. He stresses the importance of mindful consumption and proper food preparation to maintain overall health.

Youth ambassador Chrysean Jarvis, with his background in food nutrition and health, emphasizes that SSBs contribute significantly to health issues, including cardiovascular diseases. He stresses the importance of mindful consumption and proper food preparation to maintain overall health.

The coalition's formation comes at a time when several countries, including Guyana, Pakistan, Ghana, and Malaysia, have made significant strides by decriminalising suicide. These legislative changes help combat stigma and increase the likelihood of individuals seeking support before it's too late.

The coalition's formation comes at a time when several countries, including Guyana, Pakistan, Ghana, and Malaysia, have made significant strides by decriminalising suicide. These legislative changes help combat stigma and increase the likelihood of individuals seeking support before it's too late.

Read the full press release here and detail of the Coalition here.

Quotes from The Coalition Co-Chairs:

Dr. Tiffannie Skerritt, CARICOM Youth Ambassador for Montserrat, led the charge locally, gathering together key stakeholders such as health practitioners, youth leaders and civil society organization representatives to discuss the concerning rise in childhood obesity and NCDs in Montserrat as well as strategies to build a healthier environment, including a healthier school food environment.

Dr. Tiffannie Skerritt, CARICOM Youth Ambassador for Montserrat, led the charge locally, gathering together key stakeholders such as health practitioners, youth leaders and civil society organization representatives to discuss the concerning rise in childhood obesity and NCDs in Montserrat as well as strategies to build a healthier environment, including a healthier school food environment.

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Image: PAHO

PAHO: The PAHO Office for the Caribbean Subregion is pleased to welcome Dr Juan Manuel Sotelo as the Interim Director of the Subregional Office in Barbados. Dr Sotelo, an experienced international public health professional, succeeds Dean Chambliss, who was recently reassigned as Director, Shared Services Initiative.

Cancer Support Services: Registration for Cancer Support Services' 10th Annual Conference is now OPEN! 

Please indicate your interest and we will provide the registration information.

Credits are available.

Registration closes September 13, 2024. Email cancersupport@caribsurf.com or call 228-7081 to register.

Image: Jamaica Observer website

Jamaica Observer: Mental health is integral to overall well-being, influencing how individuals think, feel, and act. In recent years, and especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has been thrown into the spotlight as not just a global issue but a national one. This article explores the benefits of physical activity on mental health, highlights relevant statistics, and discusses practical and affordable ways to stay active. Additionally, it examines policies like the National School Nutrition Policy and re-imagines the role of professions such as physiotherapists in improving mental health care access.

Register now to save your spot for this informative and thought-provoking webinar and to ask your burning questions to experts in the field!

Register now to save your spot for this informative and thought-provoking webinar and to ask your burning questions to experts in the field!

NCD Alliance: The annual Global Week for Action on NCDs seeks to ensure NCD prevention and management get the attention and action they deserve, everywhere, for everyone.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancers, diabetes, mental health conditions and many others, are the #1 cause of death and disability worldwide. They account for 74% of all deaths and more than three out of four years lived with a disability. If no clear action is taken to reverse this trend, deaths from NCDs could rise to 52 million — or the population of South Korea — per year by 2030.

Photo: WHO

WHO: This fifth milestone report summarizes the progress from 2018-2023 towards the global elimination of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFA), highlighting impacts on public health. With a focus on public health impact, it summarizes progress towards the global target, highlights progress by WHO region, and describes the remaining challenges and policy recommendations to complete and sustain elimination.

PAHO: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the University of Toronto, cordially invite you to attend the webinar "World Suicide Prevention Day 2024: Change the narrative", that will take place on Tuesday 10 September, at 12:00 pm (EDT or Washington D.C. time). In this session will discuss the impact and relevance of suicide prevention through media messaging, focusing on the he importance of responsible media reporting related to suicide to promote awareness and collaboration across the Region of the Americas.

CARPHA: The deadline for receipt of papers is December 13, 2024. 

Papers are selected based on scientific merit and relevance to the health priorities areas of the Caribbean. Submitting Authors may request oral or poster presentation but the final assignment of accepted papers will be made by the scientific review committee.

The HCC is seeking to expand our database of consultants with expertise in the area of NCD prevention and control. The HCC relies on consultants to support the implementation of our projects in the short, medium and long-term. To this end we are inviting individual consultants and consulting firms to submit CVs to the HCC. Submitted CVs will be reviewed to ensure they meet the selection criteria and if successful they will be placed in our consultant database. Please note that consultants do not need to be based in the Caribbean but must meet the selection criteria outlined. The database will be the first resource we turn to when consultancy opportunities arise.