Bringing Diabetes to Light

The International Diabetes Federation has proudly announced that the United Nations will light its New York Headquarters in blue to mark World Diabetes Day 2008.

"This is a first for the United Nations. While in the past the organization has lit particular offices to spell out messages, most notably its own anniversary and 'I (heart) NY', never before has the UN lit to address a specific cause."

Here is a list of who will be lighting up across the Caribbean.

Antigua and Barbuda

• 

  Roundabout, St John's, Antigua and Barbuda

Barbados

• Central Bank, Bridgetown, Barbados
• 

  Cable & Wireless Building, St Michael, Barbados
• 

  Purity Bakeries, St Michael, Barbados

Cayman Islands

• 

  Fountain in Heroes Square, George Town, Cayman Islands
• 

  Caymana Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Cuba

• 

  Teatro Municipal , Ciego de Avila, Cuba
• 

  Museo de Arte Decorativa, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba

Dominican Republic

• 

  Iglesia Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, Moca, Dominican Republic
• 

  Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

Grenada

• MNIB Building, St George, Grenada
• Courts Grenada Ltd, St George, Grenada

Jamaica

• 

  University of West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica

Saint Lucia

• Government House, Castries, Saint Lucia
• Castries Town Hall, Castries, Saint Lucia

Trinidad and Tobago

• City Hall of Port of Spain, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
• Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Virgin Islands, British

• Sir Olva Georges Plaza, Road Town, Tortola, Virgin Islands, British
• Road Town Roundabout, Tortola, Virgin Islands, British

The Cost of Diabetes

By Dr. Oscar Jordan
Chairman, Barbados Diabetes Foundation

Chronic disease accounts for a disproportionate amount of government expenditure on health. Among the chronic diseases diabetes stands as the main bugbear.

Costs related to diabetes are classified as either direct or indirect. Direct costs are those directly related to the cost of managing the disease i.e. hospitalization costs, laboratory costs, fees for doctors, nurses, nutritionists, physiotherapists and other professional fees, cost of medication etc.

Indirect costs relate to time off work due to illness with obvious implications for sufferers, their families, their work places, insurance companies etc. Then there are the hidden costs which are impossible to quantify. These include the psychological burden to patients and their families as patients transition from providers to dependants because of some incapacitating diabetic complication.

In Barbados much of the direct cost, at least for patients in hospital, are borne by the Government. Only one definitive study has been done, to the best of my knowledge, to measure the impact of hospital costs for patients who are treated as in­-patients or out-patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospital or at the various polyclinics.

That study, carried out by Belle and his colleagues, suggests that as much as 15% of the total hospital budget was spent on diabetes-related conditions, in the year of the study, or approximately 18 million dollars. This figure does not include the costs of care conducted at private physicians’ offices or the associated or indirect costs for those patients.

Cheryl, Award Winner and Health Advocate

My thoughts on the ‘Wellness Revolution” conference…

I was only there for a day, but wish I could have attended the entire thing. The presentations were outstanding as was the participation. The folks there seemed determined to make a dent in the prevalence of CNCDs. I too have found myself all fired up. I was not able to contribute to the declaration that was produced at the end, but I am not going to let that stop me from getting involved. I have already read and internalized the various points, because I believe that anyone who wants to make a difference; who wants people to change their eating habits and to get out and exercise more needs to demonstrate this in his/her own life.

I can’t promise that I will join an organization, or any such thing; time will not permit me to do so. However, I plan to use the means at my disposal to help keep the revolution going – my pen (read computer keyboard).   I am already advocating for a daily instead of weekly health page in the Stabroek News. My boss hasn’t bent as yet… but he is leaning...

(Cheryl Springer is the first Caribbean Journalist to win the InterAmerican Jounalism Contest Award for Tabacco Control)

Better Health - The Skye is the Limit

Skye Hernandez, a freelance media practitioner also hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, had a rewarding experience at the just concluded Healthy Caribbean 2008 conference.

Despite the fact that she didn't fit the profile of what she considered to be the typical delegate, not being a health practitioner and all, her presence was critical as the organizers will be leaning heavily on the media going forward to get their messages across to the Caribbean, even throughout the entire civil society.

In talking with her it was clear that she successfully maximized the all-important networking opportunities and listening to her it was obvious that those who could not, or chose not, to attend missed out big time.

It was very well organized and there was a wealth of information. I'm not in the field but I work with Caribbean Wellness Day to promote to the media to get their support.

I learned a lot and I'd say the logistics were very well worked out. The people involved in getting the information we needed were very good, as was the networking. I met a lot of good, passionate people."

Her pen, in the eyes of the champions of this movement for a healthy Caribbean, is indeed mightier than the sword, and she can be counted on to wield it aid their cause.

"The next time I have to do anything with health I believe I will get a better response because they'll know who they are talking to.


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Setting the Agenda on CNCDs

Healthy Feedback

Setting the Agenda on CNDCs

If you missed the Healthy Caribbean 2008 Conference, you have come to the right place.

On Saturday, October 18 we featured the first of three delegates, a Jamaican, who willingly shared her impressions of the conference and the fascinating story of how they are leveraging the world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, in the fight against CNDCs.

Today we share the comments of Candice Lawrence of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), who gave us a private sector perspective on the conference.

"I was really impressed with the organization of the conference. The materials were relevant, the data was accurate and there was a good mix of workshops and presentations."

While she lamented the fact that the conference agenda was a bit packed leaving herself and others visibly tired, she decided that generally she enjoyed it and looked forward to returning to next year's.

"There was a good mix of public and private sector and civil society participation", she added with the enthusiasm of a true networker.

So, one might ask, how will the CAIC download the concepts discussed at the conference into their member organizations and by extension, how will they get them to act on the knowledge they are about to receive?

"We are the private sector representative for the Caribbean and we have worked with PAHO in the past and we're basically rallying private sector behind the fight against CNCDs.

"Some organizations already have workplace wellness programs but you don't want people just going for counseling but to reward participation in physical activities, e.g. sports days."

"The challenge is how to find a way to reward employees for staying healthy. Also, if you don't have the buy-in of the CEO it is unlikely to get implemented. It also comes down to how you sell it. We want people, not concentrating on 'taking all 15 sick days' but on 'we want you to be healthy for the next 15+ years'".

The latter drives home a crucial point: companies often take on the personality of their CEO and hence it is that persons who sets the agenda for the organization.

With the increasing acceptance of the importance of a holistic marketing strategy that includes clear stances on corporate social responsibility, we strongly believe that unlike you menu of charities or causes you may choose to support, CNDCs ought to be on the agenda of all companies.

The fact is that we are losing more of our family members, colleagues, friends and loved ones to these lifestyle illnesses than any other causes and in the words of Professor, Trevor Hassell, "we cannot afford to not afford" to join this fight.

What about your company? Do you yet have an agenda encouraging prevention or even management of CNDCs? What creative tactics are is your organization using to tackle the fight against CNDCs in the workplace?

5th InterAmerican Journalism Contest

The multifaceted Healthy Caribbean Conference 2008, had as one of its highlights the presentation of the 5th InterAmerican Journalism Contest on Tabacco Control.

A Brazilian and a Guyanese were the eventual winners, symbolic of the Conference's varied potpourri of different nationalities. Featured here is the slide presentation for your viewing.

Healthy Feedback

When Dawn Williams, communications officer with the Bloomberg Global Initiative of the Jamaica Heart Foundation, stepped out of today's general session, her enthusiasm was very apparent.

It was more than after glow of national pride from the success of the Jamaican team at the 2008 Summer Olympics; she was beaming at the prospects of leveraging the knowledge she had gained during these pass couple of days back home in Jamaica.

A major achievement I am excited about is the target to have a regional coalition of civil society among their NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) to really make a different through education and mobilization of citizens in their communities toward the reduction of CNCDs (Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases) and also lobbying governments, including my own, to either ratify the FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) so that more Caribbean citizens can know how dangerous tobacco is. It's not just the lung cancer but it contributes significantly to whether people smoke or not."

Dawn was also very conscious of the need for this information to filter down from the white paper stage to the bite size chunks that the youth especially could digest. In Jamaica, they have a swift advantage in Usain Bolt, to show the youth that being healthy and successful takes time and effort.

"We use Bolt and others in Jamaica to show that it takes thorough years of preparation." Also by using edutainment and images of both sick and healthy people she hopes to convince the youth that their responsibility to themselves and future generations begins with how they value their health today.

"Some people believe that if they start smoking today it's no big deal that 'everybody has to die anyway' but the effects don't come until some 20 years later, often when you are starting a young family."

Article & Photos by Christal P. McIntosh, Healthy Caribbean 2008 Media Correspondent for PRMR Inc.

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Better Health - the Skye is the Limit

Setting the Agenda on CNCDs

Day 1 round up

by Claudia Monlouis
GIS St. Lucia

As day one of the conference began to unfold approximately ten presenters led discussions on the fundamental and complex issues surrounding the Caribbean’s Communicable and Non Communicable disease Crisis.

Speakers described, defined elaborated and illustrated the challenges global, national, and individual which confront the current Caribbean community’s state of heath.

The appeal was made for civil society to intensify its work towards forming sustained partnerships that would then lead to sustained sensitization and awareness within the community.

During concurrent workshops on Advocacy and Coalition Building, Public education and media campaigns and Monitoring and Evaluation, conference participants were engaged in very vibrant discussions which centred on similar factors and experiences faced in their attempts to develop initiatives aimed at:
Changing Behaviour, Changing Community Norms, Changing Policy, Enforcing Policy or preparing people for the implementation of changes to come.

Insight was also provided on how the same health and lifestyle problems are addressed in other countries of the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe giving the sessions a decidedly international flavours.

Some of the approaches used, may not work everywhere stressed facilitator K.Gutierrez who presented on media Campaigns directed at:  ‘ Why to quit’ and ‘How to quit’ messages designed to target smokers said it was vital for civil society organizations to know what approaches would be best adapted in their cultures, when undertaking their projects as well as which medium/ media would be best effective.

Meanwhile the Caribbean perspective was placed under high scrutiny only as a means of spurring discussions that can lead to answers not as a platform for criticism.  In light of discussions held the common variables affecting Caribbean Healthy Living Initiatives as regards, Diet and Nutrition , Chronic diseases and Active Lifestyles were pointed out as work being done but there is a marked lack of funding and documental support to enable continuity and sustainability, a critical lack of Evaluation and monitoring also linked to inadequate funding and political will on the part of governments.

The conference therefore took the opportunity to examine the myths and find new and even non traditional approaches that will assist them in getting past the many obstacles so they can continue the good work and form coalitions and heighten advocacy on the path to revolutionizing ‘Wellness’ in the Caribbean.

CMO Of Barbados On the Healthy Caribbean Conference

Dr. Joy St. John, Chief Medical Officer of Barbados speaking today at the Healthy Caribbean Conference at the Accra Beach Hotel & Resort said that she is very excited by what was taking place.  

She said that she was especially looking forward to the Civil Society Declaration because as much as the Ministry and the Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Commission are doing they still need partnerships. 

 "One of the first things that the CNCD Commission did was to compile a comprehensive list of NGOs involved in any area of health.  This conference is wonderful because it helps these entities to have a strategic direction in the same way that we do. "

She said that the Strategic Plan was based on partnerships and alliances and that the Ministry would like to have service level agreements like the one presently existing with the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados with all other NGOs.  

Dr. St. John said that the Conference workshops were a good foundation and would be an excellent spring broad for these types of constructive relationships. 

Advocacy and Coalition Building Workshop

Advocacy and Coalition Building

On day one of the Healthy Caribbean Conference there were three workshops. Workshop 1 Advocacy and Coalition Building was conducted by Lorraiane Fry of Canada and Deborah Chen of Jamaica. The objective of the workshop was to discuss tools and approaches available for change.

A definition given for Advocacy was Active support for a cause, or legislation with the express goal of influencing opinion and mobilising action. The are many different approaches. The key questions are 1. What do you want? How are you going to get it? What do they need to hear? Who do they need to hear it from and How can we get them to hear it? They went into the different steps to communicating effective.

Conference Opens

The Healthy Caribbean Conference 2008 opened this morning with a packed room of participants from 18 countries across the Caribbean and Latin America with an interest in health - health NGOs, development agencies, the private sector, governments.

Prof.  Trevor Hassell, Conference Coordinator, opened the conference, welcoming participants and laying the foundation for the meeting.

Chronic non-communicable diseases remain the leading cause of deaths across the region but are easily overlooked because they lack the impact on the public imagination of other more visibly tragic diseases.  

The Conference aims to engage civil society in supporting implementation of the Port of Spain Declaration.  Other objectives include identifying priorities and developing an initial 48-month Caribbean Civil Society Plan to respond to the challenge of the Port of Spain Summit - Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic Non-communicable Diseases; presenting the InterAmerican Heart Foundation Science of Peace Award and to present the 5th InterAmerican Journalism Contest Awards on Tobacco Control.