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.