Caribbean leaders will follow up on a commitment to deal with the epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases in the region later this year at a conference in Barbados, which aims to mobilize a wide cross section of stakeholders.

Trevor Hassell

In October the region’s campaign against chronic diseases will continue with a focus on creating a preliminary Caribbean civil society plan to tackle chronic diseases over the next two to five years with specific attention on diabetes, hypertension and dyslipideamias.

According to a press release, Barbadian cardiologist Professor Trevor Hassell and Professor Henry Fraser of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Cave Hill Campus are leading the organising team for the conference. It is being facilitated by the Pan American Health Organisation, the InterAmerican Heart Foundation, the Barbados Ministry of Health CNCD Commission and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados.

International and regional leaders in the field of chronic disease prevention and treatment will attend the conference and assist in the attaining of conference objectives.

Highlights of the conference will include the delivery of the InterAmerican Heart Foundation Science of Peace Lecture and the presentation of the Science of Peace Award to Sir George Alleyne, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, and the presentation of the fifth InterAmerican Journalism Contest Awards on Tobacco Control.

Last year, Caribbean leaders met in Trinidad and Tobago and signed the ‘Declaration of Port of Spain; Uniting to stop the epidemic of Chronic Non Communicable Disease (CNCDs)’, a joint treaty to promote policies throughout the region that favour prevention and enhanced treatment of chronic diseases.