(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) For the first time in the Americas, Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meet specifically to discuss the problem of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCDs). The historic Summit is supported by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Americas Bureau of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

This Special Summit represents a culmination of multiple efforts to engage Caribbean leaders in a concerted effort to stem the epidemic of Non-Communicable diseases in CARICOM, the worst in the Americas.

Set to take place on 15 September, 2007 in Port-of-Spain Trinidad, under the theme, Stemming the Tide of Non-communicable Diseases in the Caribbean, the Summit will bring together decision- and policy makers of CARICOM and other regional and international health organizations to declare actions appropriate to curtailing lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart attack and cancer.

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, the Hon Dr. Denzil Douglas who has lead responsibility for Health, in the Quasi-Cabinet of CARICOM Heads of Government, will set the tone for the Summit in his keynote address expected to review the nature and impact of NCDs as well as the Caribbean’s response to the epidemic. Other presentations and interventions will be made by the Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, Chairman of CARICOM; the Hon Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago; the World Bank, The World Health Organisation (WHO); The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the University of the West Indies.

At the Eighteenth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in February 2007, Dr Douglas outlined the purpose of the Summit as establishing and agreeing on a regional approach to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and, in this regard, evaluate the Caribbean situation within the global context. This would include examining the burden of the main diseases; and proposing solutions that can be taken at the level of the health sector and those with major policy implications for Governments.

The Summit is expected to end with a clear appreciation of the extent of the threat of NCDs to the health sector and development of the Caribbean region as well as collective decisions on imminent actions and the necessary monitoring mechanisms for follow up.

Chronic NCDs are lifestyle related diseases which account for 60% of deaths worldwide and are reported to be the leading causes of death, disability and illness in the Caribbean.

Contact: piu@caricom.org