The Moment for Caring in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is Now

 

This NCD Civil Society Response in Support of the 2023 Bridgetown Declaration to be adopted this week, provides key messages and follow-up recommendations by the Healthy Caribbean Coalition and the NCD Alliance. 

 

It represents civil society’s ongoing contribution to the development of the 2023 Bridgetown Declaration and accompanying Annexes for adoption at the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Ministerial Conference on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health (14-16 June 2023). The recommendations are the result of NCDA's and HCC's involvement in the process so far.

 

It is hoped that this Conference will be a turning point for SIDS, supported by the global community, to accelerate action on the largely preventable burden of NCDs, including mental, neurological and substance use disorders (MNSDs), that disproportionally impacts SIDS. People living in SIDS are at higher risk of dying prematurely from a major NCD, and SIDS show the highest rates of childhood and adult obesity worldwide.