Sweet Talk Symposium Summary Video
We’re excited to unveil the summary video for The Sweet Talk Symposium, a groundbreaking event that took place on October 25th, 2023, in Nevis
Category: Health Policy
Sweet Talk Symposium
On October 25th, 2023, we hosted The Sweet Talk Symposium in Nevis, a youth-led initiative, which represented a significant milestone in the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Front-of-Package Warning Labels
In the quest for healthier dietary choices and improved well-being, the introduction of octagonal front-of-package warning labels emerges as a potent tool
Healthy Drinking Habits Matter
t the heart of our “You’re Sweet Enough” campaign is a fervent advocacy for the adoption of healthy drinking habits, with a particular emphasis on the significance of water consumption
Meeting with the AG
We recently had the privilege of meeting with the Attorney General, Hon. Garth Wilkin, to discuss crucial policies and legislation aimed at preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
Global Week for Action on NCDs
The Global Week for Action on NCDs commences on September 14th 2023, uniting civil society organisations and individuals worldwide in a collective call to action for governments to address the pressing issue of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs),
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.
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.
The Need for Gender-Sensitive Health Policies
International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women and acknowledge the work that still needs to be done to promote gender equality. One area where gender disparities persist is in women’s health, particularly when it comes to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
NCDs are responsible for more than two-thirds of all deaths worldwide, and in St Kitts and Nevis, they account for over 80% of deaths and illnesses. Women in the Federation are disproportionately affected by some NCDs, such as diabetes and cancer, and are also at risk of developing chronic reproductive illnesses such as fibroids, endometriosis and PCOS.
Women’s exposure to stress, which is often linked to the many roles they fill in society, can increase their risk of developing an NCD. Cultural barriers, gender stereotypes, and discrimination can also contribute to poor health outcomes for women.
To address these disparities, gender-sensitive health policies are necessary. These policies must be informed by research and take into account the unique needs and experiences of women. They should also focus on reducing disparities in health outcomes between different groups of women, such as those based on age and income.
Gender-sensitive health policies must prioritize access to essential health services and address the social and economic factors that contribute to poor health outcomes. This includes ensuring access to maternal and reproductive health services, mental health services, and services for NCDs.
International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made towards improving women’s health and renew our commitment to advancing gender equity. It is a reminder that women’s health is a human rights issue, and that everyone has a role to play in promoting gender equality and empowering women to take control of their health.
Let’s work together to create gender-sensitive health policies that are grounded in the principles of equity and inclusion, and prioritize women’s health in our personal and professional lives. By making healthy lifestyle choices, advocating for policies that promote women’s health, and supporting organizations that work towards improving women’s health outcomes, we can create a world where all women have access to the care they need to thrive.
Our Law and NCD Webinar
On Wednesday 26th October, we were delighted to host a webinar in collaboration with the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association to answer the question “Can the Law Really Tackle Non-Communicable Diseases?” This webinar aimed to educate those in the legal field on how the law can be used to reduce the public’s exposure to NCD risk factors and create a healthy food environment.
This event started with a presentation by Javier Zuniga, Lawyer, El Poder del Consumido on his experience as a Mexican lawyer working on the prevention and control of NCDs. Specifically, Mr Zuniga focused on regulations on front-of-package warning labels which aim to give the public a very quick and easy way to identify foods and beverages that are high in sugar, salt, saturated fat and trans fat and thereby enable the public to make more informed choices about their food purchases.
Following Mr Zuniga’s presentation, we transitioned to a panel discussion which featured:
- Javier Zuniga, Lawyer, El Poder del Consumido
- Kesaundra Alves, Legal Consultant, Global Health Advocacy Incubator
- Maisha Hutton, Executive Director, Healthy Caribbean Coalition
- Juan Carballo, Legal Consultant, Global Health Advocacy Incubator
During this panel discussion, we had an interesting and informative conversation on the work that is being conducted across the region to tackle NCDs through laws and regulations. We touched on sugar-sweetened beverage taxation, school nutrition policies, tobacco control, banning the sale and marketing of unhealthy foods in and around schools and front-of-package warning labels. We also explored the challenges that lawyers and public health advocates face in trying to encourage the introduction of laws and policies related to these areas; a significant challenge being the food and beverage industry’s interference in the policymaking process. Furthermore, we discussed ways to motivate Governments to take action on NCDs by adopting robust, evidence-based policies and laws, and how lawyers can get involved in the ongoing work across the region to prevent and control NCDs.
This was a very interesting and thought-provoking event and we would like to thank all our speakers and panellists for participating in this event and for so generously sharing their expertise and knowledge with attendees. We would also like to thank the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association for partnering with us to organise this event and we would like to thank all the attendees who joined the event. We appreciated all their comments and questions which made for a rich discussion and finally, we would like to thank our new Advocacy Consultation, Dentrecia Blanchette for her excellent moderation of this event.