GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (MinVSA) Hon. Cornelius De Weever would like to welcome the participants to the first regional Caribbean Civil Society Cervical Cancer Advocacy Workshop that will take place from March 21-22 at the Sonesta Great bay Beach Resort & Casino in partnership with Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and MinVSA.
The workshop is for representatives of cancer societies and foundations in the Caribbean.
The primary objective of the workshop will be to build advocacy capacity around cervical cancer prevention, control and treatment among Caribbean cancer Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in support of the Regional Strategy and Plan of Action for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control in Latin America and the Caribbean, approved by the 48th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO).
Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death in the Caribbean with mortality rates higher than the developed countries such as the USA.
Raising awareness of this cancer and advocating steps to reduce the mortality rates is a priority concern of the HCC which has a key mandate to develop and strengthen the skills and organizational capacity of the various members involved in health throughout the Caribbean. A similar call and recommendation was made during the local Cancer Conference of October 26 and 27.
Activities at the two-day workshop will include presentations, facilitated discussions, breakout group discussions and plenary sessions.
It is expected that the workshop attendees will have significantly strengthened cervical cancer advocacy capacity and take tangible steps towards the establishment of a Caribbean Cancer NGO 'Network'.
Participants will leave better armed to support regional cancer advocacy campaigns and petitions as well as utilize the skills to influence cervical cancer activities in their home territories.
Minister of Public Health Hon. Cornelius De Weever also takes this opportunity to recognize the participation of local NGOs such as the St. Maarten Cancer Foundation, Positive Foundation, Kelahah Foundation, and government organizations which will ensure the growth of investing and sharing information that should contribute to improving cancer services within our community, adding that after the October Cancer Conference, the workshop illustrates the country's commitment and continuity to prevention and "..our 'get checked' program."
HCC was formed in 2008. It arose out of a 2007 Declaration of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
The HCC is a regional network of Caribbean health NGOs and civil society organizations who are interested in addressing NCDs. HCC works closely with regional and international leaders in NCD prevention to leverage the power of civil society by strengthening and supporting membership in the implementation of programmes aimed and reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with NCDs.
The two-day workshop is seen as a second positive step in the journey of improving local cancer services while the first step was taken with the Cancer Conference back in October 2012.
