Caribbean News

CARPHA reminds us about World Heart Day 2023

Published

7 months ago

October 10, 2023

Heart disease knows no boundaries as it affects individuals of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. The Caribbean Region is not immune to the burden of this disease. The incidence of heart disease in the Region is on the rise, particularly among younger populations. This increase is often attributed to changes in lifestyle, including a shift towards diets high in processed foods, limited physical activity, and increased rates of tobacco use.

“The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) recognizes the urgency of this issue and has been working tirelessly to combat it. In collaboration with regional partners, CARPHA has implemented initiatives like the Caribbean Expanded Salt Initiative to reduce salt consumption and the Six-Point Policy Package to address childhood obesity, a critical contributor to heart disease risk. These programs aim to raise awareness, educate the public, and implement policies that promote heart-healthy behaviors,” said Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director at CARPHA.

World Heart Day, observed annually on 29th September, serves as a reminder of the need to prioritize heart health on a global scale. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) including heart diseases and stroke, their risk factors, and the importance of prevention and timely intervention. It encourages individuals, communities, and governments to take action and promote heart-healthy lifestyles. This year’s campaign Know Heart, Use Heart, focuses on the essential step of knowing our hearts first.

The most significant risk factors driving premature death and disability from CVDs are poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, high blood glucose, and obesity. Several Caribbean countries have seen a rise in the prevalence of heart disease and related risk factors. These risk factors include hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, and diabetes.

The prevalence and incidence of heart disease can vary among countries and territories within the Caribbean. Factors such as healthcare infrastructure, access to healthcare services, and socioeconomic conditions contribute to these variations. However, with the implementation of the Caribbean (Regional) NCD Surveillance System, countries will be able to provide information on the region’s prevention, management, and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The access to high-quality data through this framework will also help to inform public health efforts and interventions to address this critical health issue of heart disease.

Dr. Heather Armstrong, Head, Chronic Disease and Injury at CARPHA: “Individuals play a fundamental role in reducing the burden of heart disease. Understanding your personal risk factors is your first step towards a healthier heart. Regular health check-ups can provide valuable insights into your heart’s condition. You can significantly lower your risk by adopting heart-healthy lifestyles, including a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and stress management. Communities can create environments that support these choices by providing safe spaces for exercise, access to fresh and nutritious foods, and education on the importance of heart health.”

Some simple actions you can take for a healthier heart:

• Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in whole foods

• Get moving with regular physical activity

• Know your heart – schedule age-appropriate health checks

• Encourage governments to promote heart health!

CARPHA calls on everyone – Caribbean Governments, civil society groups, regional organisations, and communities to take action. Establish, enforce, and protect NCDs prevention policies, and demonstrate your commitment to enhancing the quality of your life and that of your loved ones.

Take a moment today to show some love to your heart…because we love and protect only what we know.

Related Topics:#caribbeannews #carpha #heartday #heartdisease

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STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS EXPECTED TO ASSIST GOV’T PLANNING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

Published

22 hours ago

April 30, 2024

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KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.

This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.

“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.

He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).

Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.

“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.

“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.

Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.

Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.

The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.

NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.

CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON

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Haiti- ECHO humanitarian efforts

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2 days ago

April 29, 2024

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#Haiti#Crisis#HumanitarianEfforts#ECHO, April 23rd, 2024 – Due to the worsening Humanitarian crisis in Haiti with an increase in death toll and injured people, The European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), launched an emergency airlift of 5 flights carrying essentials which include up to 62 tons of medicine as well as emergency shelter equipment, and water and sanitation items. These were brought to Cap Haitien according to a report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on April 19, as the international Airport in Port au prince remains closed following the gang attack last month.

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Dominica repeals laws criminalizing gay sex

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2 days ago

April 29, 2024

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#Dominica#LGBTQIA, April 24, 2034- Dominica has decided to remove colonial era laws that criminalized gay sex, joining Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda.

This comes almost five years after a man of the queer community, whose identity was withheld for his safety, spoke out against Dominica’s laws in 2019, saying they violated his rights.