CARPHA Launches Caribbean Moves Initiative Aimed at Reducing Non-Communicable Diseases

Kingston, Jamaica. “As non-communicable diseases continue to be a major public health and economic burden for the Region, and especially as the situation has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the timing of the commencement of the Caribbean Moves programme provides Member States with yet another platform to strengthen health promotion programmes, and increase the momentum of ongoing national programmes for the prevention and control of NCDs and their risk factors,” stated CARPHA’s Executive Director, Dr Joy St. John.

Dr. St. John was speaking at the launch of the Caribbean Moves Initiative, which took place on 14 September 2022 – the eve of CARPHA’s 66^th Annual Health Research Conference in Jamaica.

The event was hosted in collaboration with the Jamaica Ministry of Health & Wellness, the Caribbean Development Bank, CARICOM, Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission and the University of the West Indies (UWI).

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on behalf of CARICOM and with the support of a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Grant Agreement; ‘Development of Caribbean Moves: An Initiative to Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases’ Project, has been leading a feasibility study for the Caribbean Moves Initiative, which is to be modelled after Jamaica Moves, and three other countries that have launched the initiative nationally: Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.

CARPHA will seek to systematically expand the initiative regionally. The latest country to launch their national moves programme was St. Lucia on September 09, 2022.

In the Caribbean Region, NCDs are the leading cause of death and disability, accounting for more than 65% of all deaths. NCDs include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, chronic lower respiratory diseases, sickle cell disease, mental illness and injuries.