Policy briefs launched to support Caribbean countries in implementing smoke-free legislation A Smoke-Free Caribbean by 2025/2030.That was the vision articulated at this year’s ‘World No Tobacco Day’ virtual celebration held on Monday, May 30. “As tobacco use alone accounts for one in six of all deaths resulting from NCDs, all of those people will be alive with their finances … [Read more...]
New global report shows Caribbean ranking high in obesity figures
On the occasion of World Obesity Day 2022 and in celebration of thetheme ‘Everybody Needs to Act’, nine regional partners haveunited to reaffirm their collective commitment to work together toprioritise action against overweight and obesity even as the World ObesityAtlas, 2022 paints a dismal picture for obesity in the Caribbean. The Atlas, released on March 4, 2022, by the World Obesity … [Read more...]
Raging Non-Communicable Diseases In The Caribbean Have Sparked A War Between The Food Industry And Public Health
In the English-speaking Caribbean, one of the sub-regions of the world with the highest prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), public health organizations are locked in a tug-of-war with the food industry over proposed food-related legislation targeted at addressing the over-consumption of NCD-causing foods. In summary: Diet-driven NCDs cause up to 83% of all deaths in the region. … [Read more...]
New programme to speed up action to tackle diabetes in the Caribbean
The Pan American Health Organization says the World Health Organization's (WHO) new Global Diabetes Compact aims to bring a much-needed boost to efforts to prevent diabetes in the Caribbean and other places and to bring treatment to all who need it. The compact was launched at the Global Diabetes Summit, which was co-hosted by WHO and the Government of Canada, with the support of the … [Read more...]
Rethinking health care delivery in Jamaica in a post-COVID-19 world (part 4)
[Reprinted: Jamaica Observer, 9-13-2020] In recognition of the potential health threats to the region, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government asserted in their Nassau Declaration of 2001 that “The Health of the Region is the Wealth of the Region”, fully cognisant of the critical relationship between the population's health status and economic growth. Following a mandate from the … [Read more...]