PAHO: World Suicide Prevention Day, celebrated annually on 10 September, is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The event focuses attention on the issue, reduces stigma and raises awareness among organizations, government, and the public, giving a singular message that suicide can be prevented.

The theme of WSPD 2024-2026, “Change the Narrative,” aims to break down barriers, like stigma, raise awareness, and create a culture of understanding and support to prevent suicide. Everyone, individual, communities, organization and governments has an important role to play in changing the narrative on suicide.

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.

The Government Information Service of Barbados, winners of the HCC sponsored Coverage of Healthy Nutrition Food Policy award, for their work on 'Grow Green Barbados: Episode 3 – Organic Farming' 

Photo: BGIS

On August 13, 2024 the 55th Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s Caribbean Media Awards took place in Umaya Hotel, Placencia Belize. 

The primary goal of the HCC Communications under the Global Health Advocacy Incubator project remains to tackle childhood obesity and by extension non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through healthy food environments across the Caribbean with a focus on Barbados and Jamaica. This has been achieved through the development and implementation of communication and advocacy campaigns, guided by a strategic plan to reach target audiences including policymakers, the media and lay-persons. Our markers of success have been grounded in regional governments policy readiness and implementation.

From Left to Right: Dr Mark Sami, CARPHA Corporate Services Director; Dr Lisa Indar, CARPHA Ad Interim Executive Director; Dr Juan Manual Sotelo, PAHO Subregional Programme Director-Caribbean, Ad Interim; Dr Franka des Vignes, PAHO Subregional Advisor, Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology

Photo: CARPHA

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and newly appointed Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Subregional Programme Director-Caribbean, Ad Interim, Dr Juan Manuel Sotelo, recently met at the CARPHA Trinidad Headquarters to discuss collaborations towards improved public health in the Caribbean region. 

Ad Interim Executive Director, CARPHA, Dr Lisa Indar stated, “CARPHA and PAHO have a well-established partnership. As the sole regional public health agency for the Caribbean, CARPHA works with countries and regional and international organisations to improve and protect people's health. Similarly, PAHO is the specialised health agency of the Inter-American System and also serves as Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).

CARPHA: Caribbean Wellness Day (CWD) is one of the regional responses geared towards increasing awareness and promoting measures among CARICOM Member States and their populations, to address the epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which continue to severely impact the health, economy and development of the Caribbean region. This year, Caribbean Wellness Day (CWD) will be celebrated on Saturday 14th September 2024. The theme is - Power Through Collective Action: Good Health is Our Right.

Shanielle Allen (left) is policy and advocacy coordinator and Jonathan Atkins is communications coordinator at The Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network

Photos: Jamaica Gleaner website

Jamaica Gleaner: Daily Jamaicans are presented with news reports and updates about the deadly crime and road traffic realities. These stories capture the dire urgency of the lack of safety on our roads and communities. Interestingly non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are killing more Jamaicans than guns and vehicular accidents. Yet, where is the urgency? We continue to observe an overworked health sector, bursting at its seams and overrun by sick Jamaicans.

These illnesses aren’t the deadly infections of the past caused by poor sanitation or imported diseases. Instead, they arise from a food environment shaped by poor cultural dietary habits and profit-driven priorities in food production, leading to the overconsumption of excessive added sugar, sodium, trans fats, and saturated fats. Our cultural approach to diet and food has created a national crisis.

Photo: iStock

Barbados Today: Across Barbados, children who require healthy nutrition are being confronted with more access to over-consumption of unhealthy food and beverages, which in turn is detrimental to their bodies, which leads to obesity, overweight and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Our country has a massive problem. 

As such, our children and youth need responsible government leadership to set policies to reverse this trend. However, the policies must be fully implemented to ensure these generations understand the importance of eating healthy, and the trajectory needed. I can say that Barbados is definitely on the right track with the launch of the school nutrition policy in April 2023.

 However, we are at the implementation and enforcement of that policy, and we have to make healthy food affordable for everyone!.

Health promotion and education officer for St Ann and author Kerry-Ann Patterson-Blake (right) poses for a photo with paediatrician at the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital, Dr Keisha Livingstone Sinclair

Photo: Jamaica Gleaner website

Jamaica Gleaner: Health Promotion and education officer for St Ann and author Kerry-Ann Patterson-Blake is hoping to make a good impression with her recently released children’s book – War Against the NCDs (non-communicable diseases).

NCDs are typically caused by unhealthy behaviours and are the leading cause of deaths globally.

PAHO: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) have launched the #TimeToActOnDementia campaign, a joint initiative to raise awareness about dementia and address the stigma that surrounds the condition in the region of the Americas. Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders affect an estimated 10.3 million people in the Americas and are among the leading causes of death in individuals aged 60 and older. Regrettably, persons living with these conditions are often subject to stigma and discrimination, and with the number of people living with dementia set to almost triple by 2050, now is the time to promote a better understanding of this condition.

Alzheimer's Disease International: The campaign theme for World Alzheimer’s Month 2024 is ‘Time to Act on Dementia, Time to Act on Alzheimers’.

Every September, ADI organises the World Alzheimer’s Month campaign in collaboration with its member associations from all across the world, to highlight and campaign on specific issues which directly affect those living with dementia their carers. 

The 2024 World Alzheimer’s Month campaign will centre around the taglines ‘Time to act on dementia, Time to act on Alzheimer’s’. The global awareness raising campaign focusses on attitudes toward dementia and seeks to redress stigma and discrimination which still exists around the condition, while highlighting the positive steps being undertaken by organisations and governments globally to develop a more dementia friendly society.

WHO: The global burden of unhealthy diets constitutes a major public health and development challenge worldwide. Urgent action is required to address malnutrition in all its forms, including undernutrition, micronutrient-related malnutrition, overweight, obesity, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).To accelerate progress, particularly against diet-related NCDs, a comprehensive policy approach is required to create enabling and supportive food environments. 

As part of these efforts and in response to Member State requests, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a draft guideline on nutrition labelling policies. This guideline will aim to support countries in developing and implementing new, or strengthening existing, nutrition labelling policies.

PAHO: In a landmark event, the Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) in Trinidad and Tobago proudly handed over a fleet of 8 state-of-the-art health service robots to the Ministry of Health, signaling a new era in healthcare delivery for the nation. The fleet includes 2 disinfecting and 6 humanoid mobile healthcare robots which were procured for use in the local public health sector in Trinidad and Tobago.

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.

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.

St. Vincent Times: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is set to launch a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Programme, aiming to equip youth directors, development workers, and leaders with essential skills to support young people facing emotional and mental health challenges. 

This initiative is part of CARICOM’s ongoing efforts to address mental health issues among the region’s youth population. The programme will run for six weeks, starting in September 2024, and will be offered free of charge to participants. The program will be experiential, emphasizing hands-on approaches and fieldwork to ensure participants learn and apply knowledge in real-world situations.

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.