History Of Caricom

Global body looking for targets adopted for NCD high-level meeting: CARICOM

UNITED NATIONS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of the United Nations General Assembly's high level meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) scheduled for September, the global body is looking for " clear achievable targets adopted," said the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Monday who is leading the initiative.

"We are looking for clear achievable targets adopted in relation in the way forward" in the challenges posed by NCDs, said Rodney Charles, Trinidad and Tobago's ambassador to the UN who was speaking on behalf of CARICOM at a press conference on the run-up to the high-level meeting.

Non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, the private sector and academia gathered here at UN Headquarters on Monday in a run-up to the high-level meeting on NCDs to be held on Sept. 19-20.

The UN September meeting came as a result of lobby efforts which led to a resolution introduced by CARICOM member states at the UN in May 2010.

NCDs, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases, account for 60 percent of all global deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Some of the critical measures necessary to prevent and control these diseases, such as access to and availability of affordable treatment, medication and technology, would require "global solidarity, cooperation and commitment," Charles urged.

In terms of expected outcomes of the high level meeting, he said it is anticipated that a concept action oriented outcome document will be issued which will reflect a political commitment at the highest level to prevent and control NCDs.

"It is also hoped that as a result of the high level meeting there would be increased awareness of the global burden of NCDs and their implications," he said. "We anticipate a discussion on integrated NCDs into the developmental agenda and provision of technical assistance to assist in establishing further developing programs of prevention and control of these diseases."

"We are looking for clear achievable targets adopted in relation to the way forward in addressing the challenges posed by these diseases," he said.

John Seffrin, CEO of American Cancer Society, warned that NCDs are "projected to rapidly increase and by 2030 they are expected to cause five times as many deaths as communicable diseases worldwide including in low and middle income countries".

"No health problem in the history of the world has ever gone so hidden, misunderstood and under recorded," he said.

Hillary Clinton: Remarks at CARICOM « Still4Hill

SECRETARY CLINTON:  (In progress) – and thanks also to the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Jamaica and Government of Jamaica for hosting us. And it is a special pleasure for me to be here with all of you again. I also want to acknowledge Secretary General Applewhaite for her continuing leadership and to congratulate St. Kitts and Nevis as it assumes the CARICOM chairmanship this July. I also want to start with a note of apology that I’m not able to stay longer. I had been looking forward to this meeting and to the dinner which follows, but unfortunately, I have to return to Washington to testify before our Congress tomorrow, which – and believe me, I would much rather be in Montego Bay with all of you. (Laughter.)

But I too am pleased, as the chairman said, that we are keeping to a regular schedule of these high-level meetings, because I think we have accomplished a number of our objectives, but we know there’s a long way to go. And I can tell you right now that we will have another one of these meetings next year, election or not, in the United States, because President Obama and I are committed to this region and to the individual countries represented here.

I want to start by thanking CARICOM for your role in Haiti, and I know we have the new minister from Haiti, but I think what you did by supporting free and fair elections there was to ensure that the outcome of those elections actually reflected the will of the Haitian people. Assistant Secretary General Granderson was invaluable in his role as head of the Joint CARICOM-OAS Electoral Observation Mission. And by removing tariffs on Haitian goods, CARICOM is helping to expand economic opportunity for Haitians, which is, of course, essential to Haiti’s long-term growth. The United States looks forward to working with you to find more ways to encourage private sector investment in Haiti even as we continue and deepen our development assistance to help Haitians rebuild their country.

I think our work together in Haiti shows how much we can do when we set a common agenda. Both President Obama and I are committed to our relationship and to our collaboration, and we are asking for your guidance in what areas the United States can be most helpful. I want to mention three of our highest shared priorities – citizen security, energy and climate, and economic cooperation. And I am pleased to report that we are making tangible progress in each of these areas.

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