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Contacts

Bird Rock, St Kitts, St Kitts and Nevis, West Indies

info@lakehealthandwellbeing.com

+1 869 765 8702

Author: admin
NCDPanelDiscussion
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)You're Sweet Enough
September 10, 2021

Our Panel Discussion on NCDs

On 25th August 2021, as part of our You’re Sweet Enough week, we were delighted to host a panel discussion exploring an all-of-society approach to tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and promoting healthy drinking and eating.

This event was part of a collaboration with the Ministry of Health and formed part of their seven-week SKN Moves campaign.  Now in its second year, SKN Moves falls under the Caribbean Moves program which seeks to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region by focusing on healthy eating, physical activity, and age-appropriate health checks.

NCDs in St Kitts and Nevis

NCDs are the major public health challenge in St Kitts and Nevis Specifically, 54% of adults have at least one chronic illness, and before the pandemic, the Nevis Island Administration reported that 85% of hospital admissions were NCD-related (PAHO 2012; Ministry of Health). Additionally, 83% of deaths in St Kitts and Nevis are due to NCDs (Ministry of Health). Furthermore, the prevalence of diabetes in St Kitts and Nevis is three times higher than the world average, and our hypertension prevalence is 9% higher than the global average.

With so many people in St Kitts and Nevis being affected by NCDs, it is important for us to focus on prevention and control strategies and our You’re Sweet Enough campaign has been focusing on one NCD risk factor, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).  Our campaign aims to raise awareness of the harmful health effects of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas, fruit drinks, energy drinks and sports drinks, and to encourage everyone to drink water as the healthy alternative.

Due to the very high level of sugar in SSBs, their regular consumption has been linked to weight gain and obesity, and being overweight or obese increases a person’s risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.

Research has shown that 45% of adults and 26% of children in St Kitts and Nevis are obese, and that this is contributing to the high rate of NCDs in the Federation.

By reducing SSB consumption, we can reduce a major source of sugar in our diets and this can lead to a reduction in NCD risk and related death and disability.

Our Panel Discussion

The panel discussion we hosted on 25th August, aimed to bring together representatives from a variety of sectors to explore how we can all work together to tackle risk factors like SSB consumption. This discussion was moderated by Isalean Phillip, our Advocacy and Research Officer and panelists included:

  • Dr Marissa Carty, NCD Coordinator, St Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Health
  • Dr Al Pierre, VP of the St Kitts and Nevis Medical and Dental Association
  • Andre Huie, Director of SKN Newsline
  • Jalanie Belle, a member of the St Kitts National Youth Parliament Association
  • Pastor Philip Webbe, a member of the St Kitts Evangelical Association

We had a very informative and insightful discussion on the prevention and control of NCDs. We touched on policies like SSB taxation, making healthy foods more affordable, public education and the marketing of healthy and unhealthy foods, and more. It was great to have youth representation on the panel from the St Kitts National Youth Parliament. They voiced their concern at the high rate of childhood obesity and called for action.

We would like to thank all the panelists for taking part in this discussion and Isalean for so ably moderating this important conversation. You can watch the recording of the event below and please feel free to leave any comments or questions that you may have in the comments section below, we would love to hear from you.

 

By admin
Op Ed WINN FM
Non-communicable diseasesYou're Sweet Enough
September 8, 2021

Op-Ed Featured on WINN

We were absolutely delighted that WINN Media featured our recent op-ed calling for Government action on non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

You can read this feature here

By admin
Ultraprocessed food+drink
Health Policy
August 25, 2021

Action Needed To Reduce the Growing Rate of NCDs

St. Kitts and Nevis is facing a non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic which has now been exacerbated by COVID-19. At the upcoming United Nations’ (UN) Food Systems Summit, taking place in September 2021, the government should strive to create lasting healthy food policies and decrease ultra-processed food production that contributes to growing rates of diet-related NCDs. In a recently published BMJ Global Health article, researchers from around the world urge international bodies to confront the change in modern food processing and call on governments to pass evidence-based healthy food policies.

 A small number of transnational corporations are responsible for the enormous volume of ultra-processed foods that are readily available to consumers worldwide. Ultra-processed foods and beverages are formulations of food substances typically containing additives and little or no whole foods. These products are notoriously cheap, yield high profit margins and are ubiquitously marketed globally, with few restrictions. In middle-income countries, including St. Kitts and Nevis, ultra-processed foods make up 15-30% of total energy intake and sales continue to grow.

There is growing evidence that these products are habit-forming or even addictive, which can encourage overconsumption and cravings for these products, further perpetuating the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) they cause. Recent peer-reviewed studies have shown that ultra-processed product consumption can increase the risk of several health conditions, including weight gain, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

While many countries have already passed healthy food policies to address the NCD epidemic, St. Kitts and Nevis needs to act because our global food systems are failing. Implementing a package of policies including fiscal measures, marketing regulations and mandatory front-of-package warning labels can discourage the production and consumption of ultra-processed foods. At the same time, the government needs to encourage the consumption of fresh or minimally processed foods, ensuring that they are not only available, but also accessible and affordable for all people.

 Lake Health and Wellbeing along with other civil society organizations in the federation and across the Caribbean, join public health researchers and call for St. Kitts and Nevis to commit during the UN Food Systems Summit to act on passing healthy food policies that will improve public health – our nation’s health and sustainability depend on it.

By admin
GroupShot
DietSugarYou're Sweet Enough
August 25, 2021

No SSB Drink Water Challenge launches

Thirty-eight individuals signed up to take the You’re Sweet Enough: No SSB Drink Water Challenge as part of the SKN Moves 7-week health campaign. 

The No SSB Drink Water Challenge encourages persons to make healthier choices by eliminating the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and to drink water instead. Participants will track their water consumption daily using a water tracking app and submit photo or video testimonials about their experience. At the end of two weeks, those who consumed the most water will be awarded prizes.

 A few challenge participants met for the first time at an orientation session where each person shared their motivations for signing up to drink only water for two weeks from August 22nd to September 5th.  “Sugar is a drug that is bad for us, yet it is everywhere” said one participant who recognizes the negative health effects of consuming SSBs. Another participant expressed that the challenge is a natural progression of the healthy lifestyle changes that she’s trying to make. Multiple participants shared the fact that they have a family history of diabetes and other NCDs and so they were taking the No SSB challenge to improve their health chances and to set a better example in their homes and communities. 

The You’re Sweet Enough: No SSB Drink Water Challenge is coordinated by Lake Health and Wellbeing during week 4 of the Ministry of Health’s SKN Moves 7-week health campaign. SKN Moves is an initiative designed under the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Programme to create a healthy lifestyle culture centered on healthy eating practices, regular physical activity and regular health checks/screenings. You’re Sweet Enough is a health education campaign led by Lake Health and Wellbeing to inform and educate the public about the links between consuming SSBs and the development of obesity, diabetes and other NCDs.

You can find out more about our You’re Sweet Enough campaign on our campaign website. 

 

 

By admin
Loop Caribbean Article
Fibroids
August 13, 2021

We Were Featured on Loop Caribbean

We were absolutely delighted to have been featured on Loop Caribbean for our efforts to raise awareness of fibroids in St Kitts and Nevis.

The article highlights our fibroids educational event in March 2019, our recent fibroids webinar series and our recent qualitative research project. 

You can read the article on Loop Caribbean here.

By admin
Fibroids and Mental Health
FibroidsOH Services
August 2, 2021

Fibroids and Mental Health Webinar

On Saturday 31st July 2021, we were delighted to host a webinar on fibroids and mental health. This webinar was part of our Fibroids Awareness Month event series which aimed to empower women living with fibroids with information on how to manage the impact of fibroids.  

A very important issue for women living with fibroids is managing the mental and emotional impact of fibroids. Therefore, we invited Olivia Haltman, an accredited counsellor from OH Counselling Services, to help attendees identify, understand and address the many ways that fibroids can affect a woman’s emotions and mental health. 

This session also explored how women can heal and successfully navigate the challenges that living with fibroids may present.

If you missed this session, you can watch the recording below.

By admin
Fibroids and Exercise Web
Fibroids
July 28, 2021

Fibroids and Exercise Webinar

On Saturday 24th July 2021, we hosted a webinar on fibroids and exercise. This webinar was part of our Fibroids Awareness Month event series which aims to empower women living with fibroids with information on the lifestyle changes that may alleviate their symptoms and improve their overall health and wellbeing.

In this session,  we explored the power of exercise in managing fibroids symptoms. We discussed whether exercise can be beneficial in managing fibroids symptoms and we looked at some simple, low-impact exercises that women can easily try at home through fun demonstrations of barre, yoga and other exercises. 

Speakers included: 

  • Abi Begho, Founder, Lake Health and Wellbeing; 
  • Davina Baptiste, Certified Wellness Coach;
  • Jayshree Thokal,  Qualified Yoga Instructor; and
  • Michelle Sutton, Health and Wellness Specialist.

If you missed this webinar, you can watch the recording below.

 

Our next webinar will be held on Saturday 31st July 2021 at 11am AST. This webinar will focus on fibroids and mental health.

In this webinar,  Olivia Haltman, an accredited counsellor, will help women identify, understand and address the many ways that fibroids can affect a woman’s mental health. 

We’ll empower women with the tools they need to improve their emotional wellbeing and successfully navigate the challenges that living with fibroids may present – these include managing and dealing with debilitating symptoms,  fertility issues,  tensions within relationships and the challenges that having fibroids may create in work, home and social settings. 

This is a free webinar.  You can register here

By admin
CoverImageSweetTalk (2)
Podcasts
July 19, 2021

Sweet Talk E3: SSBs and Women’s Health

It’s Fibroids Awareness Month and in this episode of Sweet Talk we discuss the links between SSBs and women’s health conditions like PMS, PCOS, fibroids, painful periods and other hormonal health issues with certified wellness coach, Davina Baptiste.

By admin
ZoomCoverPicture
Fibroids
July 19, 2021

Fibroids, Diet and Hormones Webinar

July is Fibroids Awareness Month and we’re delighted to be hosting a series of webinars especially for women in St Kitts and Nevis. These events are aimed at informing and empowering women affected by fibroids by providing practical and useful guidance to enable women to take control of their health and wellbeing.

Our series includes three webinars focusing on diet, hormones, exercise and emotional wellbeing.

On 17th July, we were delighted to host a webinar on fibroids, diet and hormones. Led by Davina Baptiste,  a Certified Wellness Coach, this webinar explored the role that hormones play in the development of fibroids and how by making simple changes to their diet, women with fibroids may be able to alleviate their symptoms and thus improve their health and wellbeing.

This was a very comprehensive and informative webinar and if you missed it, you can watch the recording below. 

By admin
Conference Picture
BlogYou're Sweet Enough
July 8, 2021

We Speak at HCC’s Conference

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) hosted a virtual conference on July 1, 2021. The conference was packed with interesting and informative panel presentations that aligned with the conference theme “Our Food, Our Health, Our People: Accelerating Healthy Food Policies to Tackle NCDs”. Participants learned from academics, legal experts, public health officials, health practitioners, youth advocates, and representatives from the CARICOM NCD Commission, FAO, and PAHO. Sessions covered topics around shaping our Caribbean food supply systems for healthier environments, improving food system governance by managing conflicts of interest and shaping people-centered movements for change.

Even though it was a virtual conference, participants had the opportunity to interact online and to get moving at home during scheduled health breaks that incorporated music, dance and guided breathing and mindfulness exercises, all of which were helpful activities to stay focused throughout the day.

 

During the lunch break, Abi Begho, Director at Lake Health and Wellbeing, facilitated a lunchtime conversation about the power of digital advocacy for healthier food environments, based on lessons learned from implementing the You’re Sweet Enough campaign. Digital platforms like social media are increasingly being used by various stakeholders to reach the public. As civil society organizations, we are learning to adapt and find innovative ways to amplify messages that sensitize the public and call policymakers to action as we advocate for healthier food policies and programs. From the conversation, we learned how social media can be strategically leveraged to target different audiences, we see how short video clips and animations are powerful and effective at communicating key messages, and we are encouraged to be consistent in posting and sharing content so that the scope and reach of our advocacy can be extended and amplified.

Check out the video clip below to view the Lunchtime Conversation on the Power of Digital Advocacy.

By admin