HCC PREPARED TO HELP

THE Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) will be stepping up to the plate and giving of its services, to assist in the multi-sectoral response needed to battle COVID-19.

President Sir Trevor Hassell, along with the Board of Directors of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition and its 100-plus members, recently issued an Open Letter to CARICOM Heads of State and Government, calling for urgent action to protect those living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) from COVID-19.

In that letter, Sir Trevor noted that, “It is estimated that in most Caribbean countries, four out of every ten adults has one or more NCDs. Most of the global data from the pandemic shows that NCDs were the most common comorbidities of COVID-19 in the older age group, with the highest mortality. The Caribbean, with its high prevalence of NCDs and many elderly people, represents a region exceedingly vulnerable to the more serious complications of the pandemic.”

As such he added, “We in civil society are of the view that more needs to be done to safeguard the health of PLWNCDs (people living with NCDs), and we are prepared to assist in what must be a multi-sectoral, whole-of-society response.”

“The HCC, with its 100-plus civil society organisation members across the region, has strong patient networks and communication platforms, which can be leveraged to ensure, as much as possible, that no one is left behind. In the coming weeks and months, in support of national and regional responses, the HCC will focus our education and advocacy on the following five key areas: increasing knowledge about COVID-19 and NCDs; promoting access to and consumption of healthy foods; promoting access to essential medicines for PLWNCDs; promoting good mental and physical health; and engaging young people,” Sir Trevor further stated.

The HCC meanwhile pointed out that as with many other organisations, it is navigating its way through the COVID-19 pandemic and determining how best it can continue to achieve its institutional goals and objectives within the context of the new realities.

“In response, we have developed a COVID-19 Communication Strategy to guide our advocacy and communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the coming weeks and months, we will tailor some of our work to address the pandemic, ensuring that our messaging is relevant, clear, guided by global and regional emerging good practice, and most importantly, grounded in evidence,” the HCC has noted. (RSM)