Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
News
TANEISHA LEWIS, Observer staff reporter editorial@jamaicaobserver.com  
September 19, 2007

Caricom states agree on 14-point declaration to deal with NCDs

CARICOM heads of government have agreed to a 14-point declaration which sets out guidelines as to how the region will tackle non-communicable diseases.

The recommendations, titled “Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs”, were formulated during a special Regional Summit on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) on Saturday in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

“It was a good summit that gave ministers a good feel for the chronic diseases and the burden these diseases have on the population’s health service and economy as a whole,” Dr Sheila Campbell-Forrester, chief medical officer at the Ministry of Health told the Observer.

Dr Campbell-Forrester accompanied Prime Minister Bruce Golding; his deputy, Dr Ken Baugh, who is also the minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade; and health and environment minister, Rudyard Spencer, to the summit that was held under the theme “Stemming the Tide of Non-Communicable Diseases in the Caribbean”.

“I think that there are some areas we may focus on that need to be enhanced, such as some policies and our interaction with the food industry, trans fats and proper labelling,” she said.

Among the recommendations coming out of the summit is the establishment of National Commissions on NCDs to plan and co-ordinate the comprehensive prevention and control of chronic NCDs.

Dr Campbell-Forrester said Jamaica could do well with a commission to work with agencies that already deal with NCDs.

“With all those agencies, you realise that a commission would be useful to coordinate and drive the process of intervention,” she explained.

The declaration, she said, also encouraged health ministries to collaborate with other sectors to create a comprehensive plan for screening and managing “chronic disease and risk factors so that by 2012, 80 per cent of the NCDs would receive quality care and have access to preventative education based on regional guidelines”.

Other declarations include:

. Full support for the initiatives and mechanisms aimed at strengthening regional health institutions, to provide critical leadership required for implementing agreed strategies for the reduction of the burden of chronic NCDs as a central priority of the Caribbean Health Cooperation in Health Initiative Phase II, being coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat, with support from the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and other partners; and

. A commitment to pursue immediately a legislative agenda for the passage of the legal provisions related to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, urge its immediate ratification in all states which have not already done so and support the immediate enactment of legislation to limit or eliminate smoking in public places, ban the sale of tobacco products to children, insist on effective warning labels and introduce such fiscal measures that will reduce accessibility to tobacco.

The declaration also recommended the re-introduction of physical education in schools where necessary, providing incentives and resources to effect the policies and ensuring that the education sector promotes programmes aimed at providing healthy school meals and promotes healthy eating.

“Jamaica has a policy and strategic plan which it has been implementing since 2004. However, we will look at any additional programmes that will help us to achieve this goal,” Dr Campbell-Forrester said.

It was also agreed that the second Saturday in September be declared as “Caribbean Wellness Day” to commemorate the summit.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Iran have certain World Cup last-32 place snatched away
Latest News, Sports
Iran have certain World Cup last-32 place snatched away
June 27, 2026
SEATTLE, United States (AFP) — Iran were deprived of a certain place in the World Cup knockout phase when a goal in stoppage time that would have give...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Belgium into World Cup last 32 with New Zealand rout
Latest News, Sports
Belgium into World Cup last 32 with New Zealand rout
June 27, 2026
VANCOUVER, Canada (AFP) — Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1 to book their place in the knockout rounds of the World Cup on Friday, securing their first...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Uruguay crash out of World Cup as Spain avoid Argentina clash
Football, Latest News, Sports, ...
Uruguay crash out of World Cup as Spain avoid Argentina clash
June 26, 2026
GUADALAHARA, Mexico (AFP) — Uruguay bowed out of the World Cup as goalkeeper Fernando Muslera's howler gifted Spain a 1-0 win in Guadalajara to secure...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cape Verde extend World Cup fairytale to set up Argentina meeting
Football, Latest News, Sports, ...
Cape Verde extend World Cup fairytale to set up Argentina meeting
June 26, 2026
HOUSTON, United States (AFP) — World Cup debutants Cape Verde will face reigning champions Argentina in the knockout rounds after drawing 0-0 with Sau...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News
Market Bag: Onion up to $400, lettuce at $600 as food prices rise
June 26, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — With cost of living continuing to climb and grocery bills stretching household budgets, Market Bag is back for a brand-new season,...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Future Caribbean launches global agentic AI buildathon
Latest News
Future Caribbean launches global agentic AI buildathon
June 26, 2026
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Future Caribbean is launching what it believes is the world’s first global agentic AI buildathon designed to strengthen the Car...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Defending champs St Catherine surge to day 1 lead at JTA/Sagicor National Athletics Championships
Latest News, Sports
Defending champs St Catherine surge to day 1 lead at JTA/Sagicor National Athletics Championships
June 26, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica —  Defending champions St Catherine are making their bid   for a consecutive title very clear, leading by 14 points after day 1 of t...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Norway coach defends decision to leave out Haaland, Odegaard against France
Latest News, Sports
Norway coach defends decision to leave out Haaland, Odegaard against France
June 26, 2026
FOXBOROUGH , United States (AFP) — Norway coach Stale Solbakken defended his decision to leave out star duo Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard in Frid...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct