admin, Author at Lake Health and Wellbeing

May 30, 2023

EmpowHer Workshops Receive CPD Certification

We are thrilled to announce that three of our EmpowHer workshops have received CPD (Continuous Professional Development) certification. The workshops, titled Making SMART Money Moves, Thriving in the Workplace Through NCD Self-Management, and Navigating the Digital World, have been recognized for their quality and value in empowering women living with chronic health conditions.

This certification highlights our commitment to supporting women’s professional growth and personal well-being. In this article, we will delve into the significance of continuous professional development, particularly for women facing chronic health challenges.

Continuous Professional Development plays a vital role in empowering individuals to enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities throughout their careers. For women living with chronic health conditions, engaging in CPD opportunities becomes even more essential. Here’s why:

Skill Enhancement and Adaptability:

CPD workshops enable women to acquire new skills and knowledge relevant to their profession. With rapidly evolving workplaces and industries, staying up-to-date is crucial. By participating in our EmpowHer workshops, women can enhance their abilities, adapt to changing work environments, and become more competitive in their fields.

Increased Confidence and Self-Empowerment:

Living with chronic health conditions can present unique challenges, often impacting one’s self-confidence and overall well-being. Engaging in CPD activities offers an opportunity for women to regain confidence and take control of their professional growth. By attending our certified workshops, women can acquire valuable insights, strategies, and tools to overcome obstacles and thrive in their careers.

Networking and Peer Support:

Participating in CPD workshops fosters networking and the establishment of connections with like-minded professionals. Women living with chronic health conditions may face specific workplace challenges that can be better addressed through shared experiences and support. Our EmpowHer workshops provide a safe and inclusive environment for networking, allowing women to connect, share knowledge, and build a supportive community.

Improved Health and Well-being:

Investing in professional development positively impacts overall health and well-being. By attending workshops focused on chronic health conditions and self-management, women can gain valuable insights into maintaining their physical and mental well-being while excelling in their careers. EmpowHer’s Thriving in the Workplace Through NCD Self-Management workshop, for instance, equips participants with practical strategies for balancing work demands with chronic health conditions, fostering a healthier work-life integration.

Conclusion

We are proud that our EmpowHer workshops—Making SMART Money Moves, Thriving in the Workplace Through NCD Self-Management, and Navigating the Digital World—have received CPD certification. This recognition emphasizes our commitment to supporting women with chronic health conditions in their professional growth and personal well-being. Continuous Professional Development offers a transformative pathway for women to enhance their skills, boost their confidence, and thrive in their careers despite the challenges they may face. Through our certified workshops, we aim to empower women to overcome obstacles, achieve success, and lead fulfilling lives both personally and professionally.

CPD certification ensures that our workshops meet the rigorous standards set for professional development, enabling participants to earn CPD points as recognition for their engagement and dedication to lifelong learning.

Join us in our CPD-certified EmpowHer workshops and embark on a journey of continuous growth, empowerment, and professional success.

By admin

BlogEmpowHer

April 30, 2023

PowerPoint and Digital Marketing

On April 28th, 2023, the EmpowHer project held a successful workshop focused on PowerPoint and Digital Marketing for women living with chronic health conditions. The workshop was the third in a series of IT workshops facilitated by Keisha Archibald, the Business Development Manager at EZone. The session was split into two parts: one hour on PowerPoint led by Ms Archibald and one hour on Digital Marketing which was led by guest speaker Ms Kelly Louisy.

The topics for this workshop were selected based on feedback received from women who attended our previous IT workshops and confirmed the information that we had gathered on the need to empower women living with NCDs with practical skills to enable them to thrive in this new digital era.

The ability to use PowerPoint is important as it equips individuals them with an additional skill for job success, specifically confidence and creativity when it comes to public speaking. Whilst Digital Marketing is essential in helping expand a person’s reach, creating a personal brand, and thus generating income. Together, these skills work hand in hand to help women build their public persona which can thus improve their job prospects as well as lead to business success. This can then put them in a position to better manage their chronic illness and thus live full, successful lives.

We were therefore, delighted that all attendees were highly satisfied with this workshop describing the session as “great” and “really good.” Furthermore, participants reported that they are highly likely to use what they had learnt during the session and that they felt more confident using PowerPoint and about digital marketing.

“The presenters were really good. Feel more confident playing with all the features. Going to be experimenting with branding.”

Workshop Attendee

EmpowHer Project

In conclusion, the EmpowHer workshop on PowerPoint and Digital Marketing was a success, and the positive feedback from the participants shows that it was highly useful for their personal and professional development. The EmpowHer project is committed to continuing to empower women with the skills they need to succeed, and we look forward to organising more workshops in the future.

We are very grateful to Ms Archibald and Ms Louisy for their valuable contributions to this workshop.

By admin

BlogEmpowHer

April 25, 2023

Amplifying Your Voice

On April 22nd, 2023, the EmpowHer project held an online workshop titled “Amplifying Your Voice.” The goal of the workshop was to empower women living with chronic health conditions through self-advocacy. The workshop was led by Julia Mandeville and Vania Patrick-Drakes from the Barbados Association of Endometriosis and PCOS. The workshop covered the foundation of health literacy, the principles and benefits of self-advocacy, and goal setting.

The participants found the content to be thorough yet simple and adaptable. They appreciated the guidelines for self-advocacy, the personal bill of rights, the different types of self-advocacy and the sharing of testimonies from other participants.

Participants said they were ‘very likely’ or ‘likely’ to use the skills they learned in the workshop, and participants reported feeling more confident speaking up and advocating for themselves as a result of the workshop.

“The entire presentation serves as confirmation for me to continue advocating for myself and for others.”

Workshop Attendee

EmpowHer Project

In conclusion, the “Amplifying Your Voice” workshop was successful in empowering women living with chronic health conditions through self-advocacy. The workshop provided valuable information and skills that participants can use to advocate for themselves and make informed decisions about their health.

By admin

BlogEmpowHerHealth PolicyWomen's Health

April 20, 2023

UHC and Gender Equality

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a fundamental human right, which means that everyone should have access to essential health services without financial hardship. While some progress has been made in some parts of the world, gender inequality remains a significant barrier to achieving UHC. Women and girls face unique challenges when it comes to accessing healthcare, including discriminatory policies, social and cultural norms, and economic constraints.

In February, the Commonwealth Foundation hosted a Roundtable discussion on Advancing Universal Health Coverage through Gender Equality. The event was attended by health experts and civil society leaders, including our Programme Director, Abi Begho. The event was an opportunity to discuss the importance of gender when introducing universal healthcare and to explore ways to make health systems more equitable and inclusive.

During the discussion, panellists shared insights on why gender-sensitive health policies matter, what policies make health systems more equitable and inclusive, and how to build adequate and resilient health systems that are efficient, accessible, and equitable. Civil society leaders working directly with communities on health access for women and girls also shared their experiences and provided valuable input.

One of the key takeaways from the Roundtable discussion was the need for gender-sensitive policies that address the specific health needs of women and girls. This includes policies that address reproductive health and maternal health, as well as policies that address the unique health needs of women at different stages of their lives, such as menopause and post-menopause.

Another key takeaway was the importance of building adequate and resilient health systems that are efficient, accessible, and equitable. This includes investing in health infrastructure, training and supporting health workers, and ensuring that essential medicines and supplies are available and affordable.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of involving civil society in the policymaking process to ensure that the needs and perspectives of women and girls are taken into account. Civil society organizations play a critical role in advocating for gender-sensitive policies and holding governments accountable for their commitments to UHC.

At the end of the discussion, participants had the opportunity to develop key policy asks that will go to Health Ministers and policymakers within and beyond the Commonwealth. This was an important step in ensuring that the voices of civil society are heard and that policies are developed with the needs of women and girls in mind.

In conclusion, the Commonwealth Foundation’s Roundtable discussion on Advancing Universal Health Coverage through Gender Equality was an important event that highlighted the need for gender-sensitive policies and equitable health systems. It was an honour to contribute to this conversation and to work alongside other health experts and civil society leaders to promote UHC for all. By working together and advocating for gender-sensitive policies, we can create a world where everyone has access to essential health services and can live healthy, fulfilling lives.

By admin

BlogEmpowHer

April 17, 2023

Excel Empowerment Workshop

Women living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) need to have IT skills in today’s digital age. Excel is one of the most commonly used software for data entry, analysis, and management. Having Excel skills can help women with chronic illnesses track their condition, manage their daily activities and improve their professional skills, making them more competitive in the job market. Equipping them with additional skills like these is essential in empowering women. Therefore, as part of our EmpowHer project, we facilitated an Excel workshop for women living with chronic health conditions. The workshop was held on 13th April 2023, and it was facilitated by Keisha Archibald, the Business Development Manager at Ezone and was the second workshop in Ms Archibald series on Navigating the Digital World.

The workshop was practical, allowing attendees to work on a budget which allowed a range of topics to be explored, including how to sort and filter data, formulas, concatenation, rules, combining information from multiple cells, and more. The step-by-step nature of the workshop and the interactive nature of the session made it very engaging and enjoyable.

All attendees were very satisfied with the workshop with the presenter’s knowledge being highlighted as one of the most beneficial aspects as well as the step-by-step nature of the workshop and being able to practice Excel and learn how to navigate through the different features.

Participants reported feeling ‘more confident’ using Excel as a result of the workshop and stated that were ‘very likely’ or ‘likely’ to use the skills learned. When asked about what skills they plan to use, the responses varied from using Excel to create a budget and present business reports to improving daily work skills and creating charts and graphs.

"The presenter was excellent and knowledgeable."

Workshop Attendee

EmpowHer Project

In conclusion, the Excel workshop for women living with chronic health conditions was a success. The highly practical approach taken by Ms Archibald, coupled with the step-by-step guidance helped participants to gain the necessary skills to use Excel effectively. The positive feedback from participants underscores the importance of providing IT skills to women living with NCDs. Our EmpowHer project remains committed to empowering women living with chronic health conditions.

By admin

BlogEmpowHer

April 4, 2023

Navigating the Digital World

Providing women living with NCDs with IT training is crucial in today’s digital age. It enables them to access health information, connect with others, and manage their conditions effectively. On March 30th, 2023, we hosted a workshop on Navigating the Digital World, facilitated by Keisha Archibald, IT Specialist and the Business Development Manager at eZone.

In this blog post, we present feedback from the participants, including what they found most helpful, skills they plan to use and additional comments and feedback

The Importance of IT Training for Women Living with NCDs

Women living with NCDs face numerous challenges in managing their conditions. Inaccessibility to information, inadequate health systems, and lack of access to healthcare providers can lead to poor health outcomes. However, technology provides an opportunity to improve the lives of these women. IT training equips them with the skills and knowledge to access health information, connect with healthcare providers, and manage their conditions effectively.

About the Workshop

The Navigating the Digital World workshop aimed to provide participants with essential IT skills to improve their daily lives. The workshop covered various topics, including productivity tools, navigating email, and cybersecurity. The workshop was attended by 11 out of the 16 registered participants.

Feedback from Participants

Overall, the majority of participants (10) were very satisfied with the workshop, while one participant was satisfied. Participants found the many ways IT can improve everyday functions, productivity tools, and helpful ways to navigate emails, among others, the most helpful aspects of the workshop. No participant found anything least useful about the workshop.

Regarding the skills they plan to use, the majority of participants mentioned using Zoho for invoicing and enhancing their business records. Other tools like ChatGTP, Quickbooks, PowerPoint features, and learning about security and passwords were also mentioned. Eight participants said they feel more confident using IT after the workshop.

In terms of additional comments and feedback, participants were highly appreciative of Keisha’s excellent presentation and expressed eagerness for more practical sessions covering Excel Spreadsheet, Graphic design, and Invitations. Participants also suggested offering further training, even if it has a cost, to expand their knowledge and skillset.

Conclusion

The Navigating the Digital World workshop provided participants with essential IT skills and knowledge, empowering them to manage their health conditions and improve their daily lives. The feedback received from participants indicates that the workshop was successful and beneficial to them. We appreciate the participants’ feedback and suggestions, and we plan to incorporate them in our future workshops to enhance the learning experience. Providing women living with NCDs with IT training is critical in today’s digital age, and we remain committed to equipping them with the necessary skills to navigate the digital world effectively.

By admin

BlogEmpowHer

April 2, 2023

EmpowHer Reflections

In today’s blog post, we are thrilled to share insights from Terysia Herbert-Browne, our Consultant Project Officer for the EmpowHer project. Terysia offers her unique perspective on the project’s impact thus far. Join us as we explore the journey of EmpowHer and how it’s empowering women to reach their full potential.

EmpowHer is a woman-led initiative that hopes to equip women living with chronic diseases with the tools needed to achieve success in their personal and professional lives. The project taking off during Women’s History month 2023 is quite fitting. So far we have had a cohort of dope, ambitious, women partake in our workshops. Our participants have engaged in workshops around budgeting and financial wellness; how to embark on successful entrepreneurial ventures; best practices for navigating success within their career as well as tools for self-management of chronic diseases in the workplace. I am proud to seeing the participants actively taking part and getting the most of out of the workshops. I am especially impressed by our facilitators most of whom are local women in various career fields, each at the top of their games in their respective careers while also actively working to improve the lives of women around them. The saying “Empowered women, empower women’ comes to mind, and I think our facilitators are fantastic examples for our providing another invaluable aspect of the initiative.

While I do wish to see more women in the federation take advantage of this powerful workshop series, I am very proud of our current cohort; I mean we have a wide range of awesomeness! From PhD candidates to veteran entrepreneurs to women involved in multiple business ventures. These ladies are already doing the work to ensure that they and their families are well taken care of. Being a part of this initiative has left me both humbled and inspired. I think one of the most powerful results of Empowher is the networking opportunities it brought about. We have women from all walks of life discussing their goals and realizing the potential for collaboration. I also think being surrounded by like-minded, go-getter women has given a lot of us the validation we didn’t know we needed to go forth and conquer our dreams. Women of St. Kitts/Nevis have always been hard workers, so that’s nothing new, what I am seeing recently is a shift in the power dynamic. We are being more intentional in our pursuits, we are working smarter, identifying ways to support our families while still being present, we know our worth and are charging accordingly.

The EmpowHer project set out to ensure women had the tools needed to live the best version of their lives, and while I think it is accomplishing that task, I think we also got to see “iron sharpen iron” an outcome we didn’t fully expect, but absolutely welcome. I’m excited to see how the ideas and collaborations birthed during the EmpowHer workshops translate into new jobs and business ventures and ultimately future success for our participants.

By admin

News

March 20, 2023

JNF becomes certified as a Baby-Friendly Hospital: A Step towards Better Health and Wellbeing

The Joseph N France Hospital, in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, recently achieved a significant milestone by becoming certified as a baby-friendly hospital as part of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). This certification is a testament to the hospital’s commitment to providing quality healthcare services to mothers and newborns.

The BFHI is a global program launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1991. The initiative aims to promote and support breastfeeding as the best way to feed newborns and infants. The program recognizes hospitals and birthing centres that implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding include guidelines for staff education and training, the promotion of breastfeeding as the best way to feed infants, and providing support to breastfeeding mothers. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes is a set of guidelines aimed at regulating the marketing of breast milk substitutes, such as infant formula, to ensure that mothers are not discouraged from breastfeeding.

By becoming a certified baby-friendly hospital, the Joseph N France Hospital has committed to implementing these guidelines and supporting mothers in their breastfeeding journey. This will have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of babies and their mothers.

Breastfeeding has been shown to have numerous health benefits for both the baby and the mother. For babies, breastfeeding provides essential nutrients and antibodies that protect them against infections and diseases. Breastfeeding has been linked to a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), childhood obesity, and certain types of cancer. It also promotes bonding between mother and baby and can have a positive impact on the baby’s cognitive development.

For mothers, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer and help to regulate their menstrual cycle. It also promotes bonding between mother and baby and can help to reduce the risk of postpartum depression.

By promoting and supporting breastfeeding, the Joseph N France Hospital is helping to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in St. Kitts and Nevis. NCDs, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, are significant health concerns in the Caribbean region. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of NCDs in both the mother and the baby.

In addition to the health benefits, becoming a certified baby-friendly hospital will also have a positive impact on the hospital’s reputation and patient satisfaction. Mothers who receive support and guidance on breastfeeding are more likely to feel satisfied with their hospital experience and are more likely to recommend the hospital to others.

In conclusion, the Joseph N France Hospital’s certification as a baby-friendly hospital is a significant achievement that will have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies in St. Kitts and Nevis. By promoting and supporting breastfeeding, the hospital is helping to tackle NCDs and improve patient satisfaction. This achievement should be celebrated and serves as an inspiration for other hospitals and healthcare facilities in the region to follow suit.

By admin

BlogEmpowHer

March 18, 2023

Unlocking Career Potential for Women Living with NCDs

Women living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) often face unique challenges in achieving their career goals due to their health conditions.

Their health condition can have a significant impact on their daily life and it can thus be challenging to maintain a fulfilling and successful career whilst managing an NCD and balancing the many roles that women play in society. Providing career development training and guidance can help women living with NCDs overcome these challenges and achieve their career goals.

Overview of our Workshop

Our “Unlock Your Career Potential” workshop, was held on March 11, 2023, and was facilitated by Desery Ottley -Tyson, the Assistant Human Resources Director at the Four Seasons hotel in Nevis. The workshop aimed to provide women with career development training and guidance to overcome the barriers they face while striving for career success.

The workshop covered six keys to unlocking career potential, including self-confidence, discipline, optimism, branding oneself, resilience, and good communication skills. Additionally, guidance on salary negotiations was provided.

All participants were very satisfied with the workshop. Participants found the workshop to be “phenomenal”, “informative”, and “an eye-opener”. They also appreciated the tips provided for unlocking their career potential, particularly with regard to building self-confidence. Furthermore, participants stated that they felt more empowered to take action in their career development and appreciated the different perspectives, ideas, and ways to deal with the situations discussed during the workshop. They also found the affirmations to be useful.

All participants stated that they were very likely to use the information provided in the workshop. They explained that they plan to use the skills they learnt to expand their expertise and for professional and career development. Participants also stated that they felt more confident about achieving their career goals as a result of the workshop.

In conclusion, our feedback evaluation reveals that the workshop was well-received by participants, who found it to be informative, useful, and confidence-building.

The feedback also highlights the importance of providing career development training and guidance for women living with NCDs. By empowering women with the skills and confidence needed to achieve their career goals, we can help them overcome some of the challenges associated with living with an NCD.

By admin

BlogFront-of-Pack Labelling BlogHealth PolicyNon-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)SSB TaxYou're Sweet Enough

March 16, 2023

Launch of Health Policy Video Series: Addressing the benefits of health levies on St. Kitts – Nevis

To move its You’re Sweet Enough advocacy work into policy, Lake Health and Wellbeing is gearing up to launch an educational video series on health policy change.

The four-part series will be launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and medical professionals to increase awareness of the importance and benefits of health policies that the Government of St. Kitts-Nevis can implement to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).

Why Health Policy?

It’s no secret that there is an increase in alarming statistics about rising obesity rates and NCDs worldwide. In response to these growing public health concerns, many countries are considering introducing health policies aimed at reducing the public’s exposure to NCD risk factors.

Popular health policies include taxes on unhealthy commodities like sugar- sweetened beverages, tobacco and alcohol. Policies around front-of-package food labeling are also championed to easily indicate to consumers which food products contain unhealthy substances like trans fats and are high in sugar, salt (sodium) and saturated fat.

These implemented measures have reduced the consumption of unhealthy products and the policy of taxation also generates revenue that can be reinvested into prevention programs for NCDs, such as physical activity initiatives or education about healthy eating habits.

A growing number of Caribbean countries are now monitoring these benefits. Countries in the region such as Bermuda, Grenada, Barbados, and Mexico are leading successful case studies of these health policies.

Roll Out of the Reel Series

By working collaboratively with health leaders and the advocacy community, Lake Health and Wellbeing hopes to address local concerns around the effectiveness of policy change and prompt government leaders to drive action toward health policy education, research, and implementation. This series is expected to complement the government’s action plan for preventing non-communicable diseases (NCD) in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The health policy series will focus on Sugar and sweetened beverage taxes and explore four key themes through 60-second reels:

An overview of health policies with a focus on sugar-sweetened beverage taxation
The reasons for the implementation of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation on St. Kitts-Nevis.
The benefits of implementing a sugar-sweetened beverage tax.
Additional policies that can prompt health/lifestyle habits such as front-of-package warning labels and a school nutrition policy

The educational reels can be viewed on Instagram and Facebook beginning March 20, 2023. New reels will be rolled out on April 3, 17, and May 1.

By admin

Contacts

EmpowHer Workshops Receive CPD Certification

Conclusion

PowerPoint and Digital Marketing

Amplifying Your Voice

UHC and Gender Equality

Excel Empowerment Workshop

Navigating the Digital World

The Importance of IT Training for Women Living with NCDs

About the Workshop

Feedback from Participants

Conclusion

EmpowHer Reflections

JNF becomes certified as a Baby-Friendly Hospital: A Step towards Better Health and Wellbeing

Unlocking Career Potential for Women Living with NCDs

Overview of our Workshop

Launch of Health Policy Video Series: Addressing the benefits of health levies on St. Kitts – Nevis

Why Health Policy?

Roll Out of the Reel Series

Contact Us

Company information