The second webinar of our special COVID-19 and NCDs in the Caribbean series: THE FUTURE TALKS: COVID-19 and NCDs in the Caribbean, was held on Friday June 26th 2020 from 10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. EST. It featured youth advocates from across the region who provided insight into their unique experiences during the pandemic and shared their perspectives on how the region can work towards “building back better”.
BACKGROUND
On March 27th 2020, the HCC published an Open Letter to CARICOM Heads calling for ‘urgent action to protect those living with NCDs from COVID-19’. On March 31st, 2020, the HCC released the HCC COVID-19 Advocacy and Communication Strategy to guide HCC advocacy efforts and communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy has five primary objectives: increase knowledge about COVID-19 and NCDs; promote access to, and consumption of, healthy foods; promote access to essential medicines and treatments for people living with NCDs (PLWNCDs); promote good mental and physical health; and engage young people as key players in the COVID-19 response. The strategy aims to contribute to universal health and universal health coverage (UH/UHC) and reduction of inequities, which is a key HCC guiding principle.
This webinar series fulfils two of the four strategies identified to deliver on the objectives of the HCC COVID-19 Communication Strategy: information dissemination and strengthening of CSO communication networks for information and experience sharing. The webinars will target a number of stakeholder groups, foremost of which are HCC CSO member organisations. Secondary target groups include regional policymakers and technical personnel across various ministries (including health, education, finance, trade etc.), members of academia, national, regional and international partners, the general public including students and the private sector.
The webinar series aims to build advocacy capacity for the promotion of initiatives and policies that support the long-term health of all, particularly vulnerable persons and those PLWNCDs. The webinars will leverage the expertise of diverse stakeholders and partners including civil society actors, technical officers, academics, health care practitioners, and youth to bring awareness to the varied and complex dimensions of COVID-19 and NCDs in the Caribbean in order to guide the multisectoral approach needed to pave the way forward. They will showcase the experiences and lessons learned thus far and highlight good practices in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of these efforts. Current initiatives, solutions and policy recommendations will be discussed to ensure that we “build back better” by strengthening our whole-of-society response to shaping the COVID-19 health legacy.
WEBINAR 2: THE FUTURE TALKS: COVID-19 AND NCDS IN THE CARIBBEAN
The objective of the second webinar: THE FUTURE TALKS: COVID-19 AND NCDS IN THE CARIBBEAN was to highlight the experiences youth face during COVID, including those living with NCDs. The webinar also served as a platform to amplify the youth’s perspective on the monumental change needed moving forward to protect PLWNCDs and lessen the burden for future generations.
Panellists represented youth who have had to manage the realities of COVID, as students, advocates and PLWNCDs. They have had to adopt, adjust and navigate unique challenges that they will unpack and share.
The discussions were guided by the following themes:
(1) NCDs and COVID-19 – The Present
- The COVID Experience
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- Unique circumstances experienced by youth
- Youth engagement in NCD prevention and control in general and within the context of COVID
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- Current opportunities to meaningfully engage youth especially within NCD prevention and control
(2) NCDs and COVID-19 – The Legacy
- Perspectives on building back our society by strengthening health systems and our NCD response
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- The role of Universal Health Care in “building back”
- The role of Civil Society in “building back”
- The role of youth in “building back better”
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- Key messages for youth during this time
Ways to create more of a conducive environment for meaningful youth engagement and empower youth as messengers
THE FUTURE TALKS: COVID-19 and NCDs in the Caribbean. (view/download flyer)
INTRODUCTION: Ms. Maisha Hutton, HCC Executive Director
NCDs and COVID-19 – The Present & The Legacy
MODERATED BY: Ms. Danielle Walwyn, Advocacy Officer, HCC
PANELLISTS:
- Mr. Pierre Cooke Jr. – Youth Voices Technical Advisor, HCC
- Ms. Kerro Knight – Student and PLWNCD
- Mr. Christopher Laurie – Project Assistant, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados
- Ms. Zuwena Perry – PAHO Youth Ambassador/CARICOM Youth Ambassador 2015-2018
QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
MODERATED BY: Ms. Danielle Walwyn, Advocacy Officer, HCC
CLOSING: Ms. Maisha Hutton, HCC Executive Director
WEBINAR 1: CIVIL SOCIETY ROUNDTABLE: COVID-19 AND NCDS IN THE CARIBBEAN
The objective of the first webinar: Civil Society Perspectives on COVID-19 and NCDs in the Caribbean was to provide a platform for Caribbean CSO leadership to share and showcase their experiences, challenges, successes and lessons learned in responding to COVID-19 and planning for the future beyond COVID-19. Read more
WEBINAR 3: THE FUTURE TALKS: COVID-19 AND NCDS IN THE CARIBBEAN – THE LEGACY
The objective of the third webinar: “The Future Talks”: COVID AND NCDs in the CARIBBEAN – THE LEGACY was to gain insight from youth experts who will present their professional and personal perspectives on how the region’s health systems can “build back better” from the COVID experience. Read more
WEBINAR 4: WEIGHING THE IMPACT OF COVID-19: NUTRITION, OVERWEIGHT, OBESITY AND NCDS
The objective of the fourth webinar: “Weighing the Impact of COVID-19: Nutrition, Overweight, Obesity and NCDs” was to reflect on the nutrition environment over the course of the pandemic and the resulting direct and indirect impacts on health; and discuss individual and population level strategies to encourage improved nutrition and management of diet-related NCDs during and after the pandemic. Read more
WEBINAR 5: RE-OPENING SCHOOLS: SHARED PERSPECTIVES ON NAVIGATING MENTAL HEALTH IN THE “CLASSROOM” DURING COVID-19
The objective of the fifth webinar, “Re-opening Schools: Shared perspectives on navigating mental health during COVID-19” was to explore the mental health concerns of key actors within schools as they reopened across the region and to discuss strategies to cultivate school ecosystems that support positive mental health and well-being. Read more