Continuing the wellness revolution: context to the Active Caribbean Workshop

Trevor A. Hassell Friday, 6 th March 2009

Heads of Government of CARICOM Summit

 The term

Wellness Revolution

was first used most recently by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves at the Heads of Government of CARICOM Summit on chronic diseases held in Port of Spain, 2007

Healthy Caribbean 2008 – a wellness revolution conference

       Held on the 16-18 October 2008 Attendees > 110 Faculty - 27 Disciplines represented - 19 Caribbean Countries - 16 Presentations - 20 Workshops and group sessions - 10

Healthy Caribbean 2008

Workshops

Best Received Presentation

Outcomes

 Caribbean Civil Society

Declaration

on Chronic Non Communicable Diseases  Caribbean Civil Society

Action Plan

for tackling CNCDs, 2009-2010  Conference Report produced as a

Technical Report

of the Chronic Disease Research Centre, UWI  Creation of a Caribbean civil society coalition for tackling CNCDs -

Healthy Caribbean Coalition

 Creation of an

Organising Task Force

Summary of the Declaration

   10 point preamble and 12 point declaration

Preamble

recognizes the contribution of the CNCDs both to ill health &disease and excessive financial burden, but appreciates that much can be done

Declares

inter alia:  Support for Heads of Government of CARICOM Declaration on CNCDs  Need to establish a Caribbean Civil society CNCD coalition  Stresses the need for increased advocacy  Promotion of healthy lifestyles  Public education and media campaigns  Seeks to hold Governments accountable

Summary of the Action Plan



Action lines:



Establishment of Caribbean CNCD coalition

 Advocacy  Support for Caribbean Wellness Day 

Development of a communication strategy

 Public education programme  Risk factor reduction 

Support for country level activities

Organising Task Force and Healthy Caribbean Coalition

“Harness the power of civil society, in partnership with government, private enterprise, academia, and international partners, to develop and implement a plan for the prevention and management of CNCDs”

A regional small organising taskforce of key partners, principally from civil society, to advance the Action Plan and organise the coalition      Prof, Trevor Hassell, Chair Dr. Beatriz Champagne, PhD Mr. Owen Bernard Ms. Elizabeth Nicholas Ms. Kamesha Turner     Mr. Orlando Scott Dr Paul Teelucksingh Dr. Alafia Samuels Dr. James Fletcher, PhD.

Communications



Website:

Media centre Presentations Library Nutrition and diet 

E-newsletter:

 News  Events  New developments 

Database and audit

News/events Conference papers Tobacco Links

Activities in country

   ECC of SDA Health Symposium for men, Dominica  University Diabetes Outreach Programme, 15 th Annual International Conference, ”Diabetes and HIV Aids”  ECC of SDA, “Breathe Free – a smoking cessation train the trainers programme” Launch of the Barbados CNCD National Registry Strategic Plan of Barbados NCNCD Commission

Next steps

     Improvement of website with greater involvement by members of the coalition Regular publication of the e-newsletter Further development of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition Funding support Translation of fine words and intentions into meaningful action, that is, continuing the revolution

Continuing the revolution

      Laminated version of risk factor charts made available to all Caribbean adults Weight and height measurements in barber shops Demedicalisation of health care Recognition of the uniqueness of the declaration given the spirit in which it was crafted and its relevance to contemporary problems Each one teach one, and tell one Preserve and support several excellent programmes

Active Caribbean Conference: road to the wellness revolution



Declaration 5

Promote physical activity through population based actions and policy change to create environments that facilitate physical activity among all sectors of the population, including effective spatial planning and design, guidelines, daily school physical education, workplace programmes, among others