UICC: Cancer is more than just a medical diagnosis — it’s a deeply personal matter. 

Behind every diagnosis lies a unique human story - stories of grief, pain, healing, resilience, love and more. That’s why a people-centred approach to cancer care that fully integrates each individual’s unique needs, with compassion and empathy, leads to the best health outcomes. 

The campaign will explore different dimensions of people-centred cancer care and new ways of making a difference. It will offer a three- year journey from raising awareness to taking action.

PAHO: Timely and quality access to medicines and supplies for cancer prevention and control. This event will bring together experts and representatives from key organizations to address the challenges and opportunities in the fight against cancer, sharing progress, experiences, and establishing commitments to improve access to medicines in the region.

Director of Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries Prevention, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Tamu Davidson, points to a health promotion flyer during a recent interview with JIS News at her new Kingston offices. 

Photo: Michael Sloley

JIS: Persons have been urged to reduce the consumption of alcohol, as it is well-established that this is directly linked to seven cancers, such as breast, throat, liver, mouth, colorectal, oesophageal, and laryngeal. 

Making the call, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries Prevention, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Tamu Davidson, said the more persons consume, the higher the risk, “regardless of whatever type of alcohol you consume”. 

“Breast cancer, we know specifically for women, the more you consume, the higher the risk, and so this is a concern for us at the Ministry of Health and Wellness,” Dr. Davidson said in an interview with JIS News.

TVJ Smile Jamaica: Consuming Alcohol Causes Cancer Prof. Marvin Reid, MB BS PhD Explains 

Click/tap to play

Barbados Today: I googled the definition of corporate social responsibility and these definitions came up. CSR is commonly defined as (a) a business model in which companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders instead of only considering economic profits; (b) organisations taking responsibility for their impact on society; and (c) an ethical framework in which corporations are accountable for fulfilling their civic duty and taking actions that benefit society. But how often do we see some businesses truly embodying these principles, especially when some of their actions appear to undermine the very social issues they claim to care about? The front page of Barbados TODAY’s January 24 e-paper edition caught my attention, with the jarring headline CANCER ‘CRISIS’. The story that followed on page three under the caption Men’s Health, really made me pause. It highlighted the troubling rise in colon cancer in Barbados. The article said Professor David Rosin, Cancer Society president, “pointed out the urgent need for dietary improvements to curb the growing trend”. This statement particularly resonated with me for another reason. Dietary improvements are not only crucial for addressing cancer but also for combating other health issues, including childhood obesity, which is the space I work in.

HCC: The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) is seeking a suitably qualified part-time Operations Manager.

This is a part-time (20 hrs) remote position, for an individual based in a CARICOM country.

GIS: In Barbados, 70% of the population has at least one non-communicable disease (NCD). These lifestyle diseases put significant pressure on Barbadian society's healthcare system and other areas.

The Barbados government is implementing measures to decrease these figures through the National Non-Communicable Diseases Commission. “The Commission recommends relevant research; promote collaborations and partnerships; monitor regional and international trends; facilitate the commissioning of audits/evaluation of NCD programs; recommends to the Minister of Health a framework that encourages and promotes behaviour change to prevent NCDs.”

Click/tap to play

GIS: In Barbados, 70% of the population has at least one non-communicable disease (NCD). These lifestyle diseases put significant pressure on Barbadian society's healthcare system and other areas.

The Barbados government is implementing measures to decrease these figures through the National Non-Communicable Diseases Commission. “The Commission recommends relevant research; promote collaborations and partnerships; monitor regional and international trends; facilitate the commissioning of audits/evaluation of NCD programs; recommends to the Minister of Health a framework that encourages and promotes behaviour change to prevent NCDs.”

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), is presented with a copy of the book ‘Healthy Start to a Wealthy Heart’, by Chairman of the Heart Foundation of Jamica (HFJ), Dr. Andrene Chung, during the launch of Heart Month on Tuesday (January 28), at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew. 

Photo: Dave Reid

Jamaica Observer: Jamaica is a step closer to developing policy to eliminate trans-fatty acids or trans-fats from the local food system. The move is part of measures by the Government to reduce the risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD) and premature death.

Health and Wellness Minister, Christopher Tufton, said that the ministry is working with the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce on a submission to be made to Cabinet. “We have agreed on a framework that, over time, will phase out trans-fat from our food,” he said.

Resolve to Save Lives: Packaged foods significantly contribute to global sodium intake, a major risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. This webinar, hosted by Resolve to Save Lives, will bring together experts and stakeholders to explore the critical role of data in shaping policies that address sodium reduction in packaged foods. Join us to gain actionable insights, explore tools like the Global Nutrition Database, and learn more about existing and possible collaborations to address global sodium reduction challenges.

Photo: Barbados Today website

Barbados Today: he nutritional health and dietary habits of children ages six to 11 are the focus of a Childhood Nutrition Surveillance Study being conducted by the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre and The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, in collaboration with the Shaw Centre for Paediatric Excellence. 

All eligible children and their parents or guardians are invited to participate in the study, which will involve physical measurements – for example, height, weight, blood pressure and waist measurements – and a brief questionnaire. The study will run until June 2025.

Barbados Cancer Society president, Professor David Rosin

Photo: Barbados Today website

Barbados Today:  The Barbados Cancer Society (BCS) has sounded the alarm on the increasing incidence of colon cancer in the country, attributing it largely to Barbadians’ current diet. This urgent health concern was highlighted during the society’s annual raffle prize-giving ceremony, where campaigners called for immediate action to address the growing crisis. The Cancer Society president, Professor David Rosin, emphasised the urgent need for dietary improvements to curb the trend.

Global Mental Health Action Network: The UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health in September 2025 marks a pivotal moment to prioritise mental health on the global stage. Mental health is now a central focus of a UN HLM agenda providing a unique opportunity to drive transformative commitments and accelerate progress.

Photo: FAO

FAO: Changing patterns of climate variability and extreme weather events are negatively affecting all dimensions of food security and exacerbating other underlying causes of malnutrition in all its forms in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the 2024 Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition. The report, published today, states that Latin America and the Caribbean is the second-most exposed region in the world to extreme weather events, following Asia.

The Lancet: In 2011, the UN Political Declaration on Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Prevention and Control announced a target date of 2025 to reduce rates of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes by 25%—the so-called 25 × 25 goal. 10 years later, the global probability of prematurely dying from one of those targeted NCDs had improved by only 1·5%. NCDs are the leading causes of premature death and disability worldwide, estimated in 2021 to be responsible for the deaths of 17·3 million people and nearly 80% of all years lived with disability before the age of 70 years. Three UN high-level meetings on NCDs have been convened to formulate action plans and intervention packages but have failed to galvanise the action needed to meet the 25 × 25 goal. WHO reports that no countries will achieve the original 2025 targets, and only 14 are on track for the one-third reduction in NCD premature mortality rates by 2030 included in Sustainable Development Goal 3.4. There is, therefore, concern about whether a fourth high-level meeting on NCDs, convening this September, will have the impact on health that is so desperately needed.

WHO: 24 – 25 April 2025 Geneva, Switzerland. The Second General Meeting of the Global Coordination Mechanism on NCDs (GCM/NCD) will convene Civil Society Actors and partners to put forward recommendations on accelerating multisectoral and multistakeholder responses to NCDs and mental health conditions. The event marks one of several major milestones on the road to 2025 and the Fourth High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on NCDs (HLM4).

Healthy Caribbean Coalition and the Caribbean Cancer Alliance Message for World Cancer Day 2016 More from a cross the region and beyond in recognition of World Cancer Day