RESUMO
The English-speaking Caribbean has the highest per capita burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) in the region of the Americas. Building on a long history of cooperation in health among the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and past successes in eliminating/reducing communicable diseases through collective action, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have now been targeted. CARICOM convened a "first-in-the-world" summit of Heads of Government to address NCDs, which generated the Port-of-Spain NCD Summit Declaration, "Uniting to Stop The Epidemic of Chronic Non-communicable Diseases". This 15-point declaration calls on all of government, civil society and the private sector to jointly tackle the common risk factors for the major chronic diseases, and improve the care of such diseases. Implementation of this declaration has been mixed, being most successful where there were regional supports, and in countries with populations > 250 000 reflecting country capacity. CARICOM has elevated this approach to the global level through successful advocacy for a United Nations High Level Meeting on NCDs to be convened in September 2011. Jamaica will be one of two co-facilitators of this meeting, a reflection of the role of CARICOM countries in advancing the NCD agenda at the global level. CARICOM Heads of Government should attend this meeting, showcase the implementation of the NCD Summit Declaration in the Caribbean, commit to enhancing systems and resources, endorse and implement the commitments made and identify and support leadership for sustained action and accountability for these initiatives.
El Caribe anglófono tiene la carga per cápita más alta de enfermedades no comunicables crónicas (ENCs) en la región de las Américas. Como continuación de una larga historia de cooperación en materias de salud en la Comunidad caribeña (CARICOM) y éxitos pasados en la eliminación/reducción de las enfermedades comunicativas a través de acciones colectivas, las ENCs se han colocado ahora en el centro de la atención. CARICOM convocó a la primera cumbre mundial de Jefes de Gobierno para abordar el problema de las ENCs, y en la cual se produjo la declaración de la Cumbre de Puerto Príncipe sobre ENC: "Unidos para detener la epidemia de las enfermedades no comunicables crónicas". Esta declaración de 15 puntos, hace un llamado a todos los gobiernos, la sociedad civil y el sector privado, a abordar el problema de los factores de riesgo comunes de las principales enfermedades crónicas. La implementación de esta declaración de lucha contra las ENCs ha tomado diversas formas, y ha tenido mayor éxito allí donde ha habido apoyo regional, y en los países con poblaciones > 250 000 reflejo de la capacidad del país. CARICOM ha elevado este enfoque a nivel global abogando exitosamente por una Reunión de Alto Nivel de las Naciones Unidas sobre ENCs a celebrarse en septiembre de 2011. Jamaica ocupará una de las dos presidencias de esta reunión, lo cual refleja el papel de los países del CARICOM en el progreso de la agenda de ENC a nivel global. Los Jefes de Gobierno de CARICOM deben asistir a esta reunión, mostrar la implementación de la Declaración de la Cumbre sobre ENC, comprometerse a mejorar los sistemas y recursos, refrendar e implementar los compromisos hechos, e identificar y apoyar el liderazgo a fin de lograr una acción sostenida y responsabilidad ante estas iniciativas.
Assuntos
Humanos , Doença Crônica/epidemiologia , Congressos como Assunto , Saúde Global , Doença Crônica/prevenção & controle , Congressos como Assunto/organização & administração , Promoção da Saúde , Fatores de Risco , Índias Ocidentais/epidemiologiaRESUMO
This article reports the results of a Saint Lucia survey, part of a larger program, that was the first to document the prevalence of suboptimal safety practices among vector control and farm workers using pesticides in the English-speaking Caribbean. Among other things, the survey found that many of 130 pesticide users surveyed were unaware that the skin and eyes were important potential routes of absorption. Over a quarter said had felt ill at some point as a result of pesticide use. About half the respondents said they had received more than "introductory" training in safe pesticide use, and most said they always found labels or directions affixed to pesticide containers. However, about half said they never or only sometimes understood the labels, and many of those who said they understood did not always follow the instructions. About a quarter of the smokers said they smoked while using pesticides; about a sixth of the survey subjects said they ate food while using pesticides; and over 60 percent said they never wore protective clothing