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(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Secretary-General of CARICOM, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, have expressed their delight at the election of the CARICOM Candidate, Dr. Carissa Etienne as the new Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says it will continue its partnership with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in fighting Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that are wreaking havoc on the economies of the regions of the Americas.

Chronic NCDs, including heart disease and stroke, diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease account for more than 70% of deaths globally and is the number one killer in the Americas, which include the Caribbean region.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Dr Ernest Pate, PAHO Caribbean Programme Coordinator has asserted that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) must be more data driven in the prevention and treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

He also called upon CARICOM Heads of Government to “move” their commitment from principle to practice, noting that adequate resources were an imperative to fighting NCDs.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community Secretariat in partnership with Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is launching a competition among Caribbean Media in the reporting and documentation of activities related to the observance of Caribbean Wellness Day on 12 September 2009.

The annual event, which focuses on reducing Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCDs), will be observed under the theme Love that Body, and is expected to build on last year's inaugural Caribbean Wellness Day.