Welcome to the CCFP Blog Spot!
Your go-to hub for timely updates, trending medical news, expert commentaries, CME activities, celebratory milestones, and heartfelt messages. Whether we're sharing the latest in healthcare, spotlighting achievements, or honouring those we've lost, the CCFP Blog keeps our regional family informed, connected, and inspired. Stay tuned, stay engaged, stay informed!
Course starts Thursday September 12noon-1:30pm EST
On behalf of Dr. James Hospedales and the EarthMedic/EarthNurse Foundation for Planetary Health, I am pleased to share with you an exciting opportunity to participate in the upcoming course:
Scaling Up Health Adaptation Measures to Meet the Climate Change Challenge in The Americas
Dates: Tuesdays & Thursdays, September 25 – October 30, 2025 Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM (Uruguay Standard Time)/ 5:00-6:30 PM UTC Format: Online (flyer attached for details)
This free 11-session course is designed to equip health professionals, system planners, administrators, sustainability officers, public health officials, and others with the tools and strategies needed to rapidly scale up adaptation, mitigation, and resilience efforts to prepare health systems for climate change.
Through interactive discussions and expert presentations, participants will:
Develop priority actions to protect health and health systems in a more severe climate regime.
Learn to apply existing climate and health guidance to drive rapid and effective adaptation.
Engage with peers across the region to share experiences, challenges, and lessons learned.
We warmly extend this invitation not only to you, but also to members of your professional network and your organization’s wider community who would benefit from participating. We kindly ask that you share this opportunity with colleagues, partners, and networks who are committed to advancing climate and health adaptation.
Your participation and support in extending this invitation will help ensure that the knowledge and tools shared in this course reach as many relevant professionals as possible.
Please click on the link above for the course schedule and registration details.
We look forward to your engagement in this important initiative.
Kind regards
Dr. Paula Henry -WONCA Caribbean Regional Lead, WP Planetary Health
EarthMedic and EarthNurse Foundation for Planetary Health
Kindly see the below six new guides designed to help health professionals and others fight vaccine misinformation. This is a critical issue that can significantly impact public opinion and affect the vaccination rates.
We trust these resources will be a valuable asset in your ongoing efforts to increase vaccination coverage and protect public health in your communities.
Please find all these guides in this link:
Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) for Vaccination - Social communication - PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization
PAHO has developed six new guides tailored for different groups to help them identify and effectively respond to misinformation.
These resources are specifically for:
•Health Workers: These professionals are the most trusted source of information on immunization. The guide addresses how doctors and/or nurses can respond to patients who have questions or doubts about vaccination that are sometimes based on misinformation to which they have been exposed.
•Risk Communication teams: RCCE teams will have necessary and useful tools and knowledge to combat misinformation in their communication campaigns thanks to this guide.
These new guides highlight the most common misinformation tactics, such as using emotional appeals, promoting conspiracy theories, and misrepresenting facts. They also show users how to spot signs of false content, like poor grammar, excessive punctuation, and misleading headlines.
Fighting misinformation isn't enough. We must recognize that vaccination rates are also affected by complex factors like logistical barriers and community standards. To address these broader challenges, we encourage all countries to use other tools such as the guidance on theSocial and Behavioral Drivers of Vaccination and microplanning.
We trust these resources will be a valuable asset in your ongoing efforts to increase vaccination coverage and protect public health in your communities.
CCFP at WONCA Lisbon 2025 — Dispatch #1 (Travel Week)
Date: Friday–Tuesday, Sept 12–16, 2025 Location: En route to Lisbon, Portugal
Wheels up! ✈️
Delegates and representatives of the Caribbean College of Family Physicians (CCFP) have begun their journeys to the 25th WONCA World Conference in Lisbon (Sept 17–21). Four early birds are already on the ground: Prof. Marvin Reid (CCFP President), Dr. Tania Whitby-Best (CCFP Honorary Secretary), Dr. Joanna Marie Francis (President, CCFP Trinidad Chapter), and Dr. Paula Henry (CCFP Executive). Dr. Aldyth Buckland (CCFP Jamaica Chapter) 2024 Five-Star Doctor Awardee, is currently transiting through London, and Dr. Kathlene Sangster Singh (Executive Member, CCFP Tobago Chapter) is also en route.
Touchdown in Lisbon! #WONCAWORLD2025 #CCFPinLisbon (photo credits - Dr. Paula Henry)
Photo ideas/captions:
Airport send-offs, boarding-gate smiles, or “arrived in Lisbon” selfies.
Street scenes: tram 28, azulejos, riverfront at Cais do Sodré.
Caption prompt: “Touchdown in Lisbon! #WONCAWorld2025 #CCFPinLisbon”
What’s ahead in Lisbon (at a glance)
Opening Ceremony: Wed 17 Sept, 16:30–18:00 (Auditorium I, Lisbon Congress Centre), followed by the Welcome Drink18:00–19:00 in the Exhibition area (Pavilion 2). woncaworld2025.org
Venue: Lisbon Congress Centre (CCL), Praça das Indústrias 1; the Exhibition/WONCA Village/Catering are in Pavilion 2; the floorplan is super helpful for navigation. woncaworld2025.org
Conference app & platform: Download the WONCA 2025 app (App Store/Google Play) for your digital badge, program, ePosters, and networking; the online Conference Platform mirrors the content. woncaworld2025.org
Lifestyle events:
Walk with a Doc: Thu 18 Sept, 19:00, meet at main entrance; ~5 km riverside to the Champalimaud Foundation. woncaworld2025.org
Sunrise Walk: Sat 20 Sept, 06:45 at Belém Tower; 4–5 km with healthy snacks. woncaworld2025.org
Run with WONCA (community meetup): Thu 18 Sept, 07:30, friendly 5 km from Titanic Sur Mer, coffee after at The Folks (Santos). (As shared in organizer updates.) mcfd.org.mt+1
Awards & Inauguration Ceremony: Sat 20 Sept, 16:00–18:30, Auditorium I; the incoming President Viviana Martínez-Bianchi keynote and new Executive Committee presentation. woncaworld2025.org
Spotlight: Primary Mental Health Care book launch & interview
A timely new WONCA title—Challenges in Primary Mental Health Care: Models for Interdisciplinary Collaboration (Dowrick & Lionis, eds.)—addresses care amid overlapping crises and emphasizes team-based, community-oriented approaches. Read the editors’ interview on why it matters now. globalfamilydoctor.com
Practical Lisbon tips for delegates
Before you travel: The official info pack lists registration hours, speakers’ ready room, exhibition hours, and key ceremonies (opening, awards, closing). Worth saving to your phone. woncaworld2025.org
Move sustainably: GIRA bikes are offering a free weekly subscription with promo code GIRA@WONCA25 (each ride up to 45 minutes free; restart to continue). Valid through 30 Sept, per organizer communications. mcfd.org.mt
Day-by-day plan (quick guide)
Wed 17 Sept: Opening Ceremony (16:30), Welcome Drink (18:00). Capture arrivals, registration, reunions, and the first evening vibes. woncaworld2025.org
Thu 18 Sept: Full scientific program; morning Run with WONCA (07:30); evening Walk with a Doc (19:00). Photos: sessions, poster floor, riverside walk. woncaworld2025.org+1
Fri 19 Sept: Sessions + (if you booked) the Conference Dinner (19:30–23:00, Pátio da Galé). Photos: networking, Lisbon at night. woncaworld2025.org
Sat 20 Sept: Sunrise Walk (06:45), Awards & Inauguration (16:00). Photos: dawn at Belém Tower; ceremony highlights. woncaworld2025.org+1
Sun 21 Sept: Final sessions + Closing Ceremony (12:30–13:45). Farewell photos & reflections. woncaworld2025.org
Photo checklist
Travel & arrival: passports + boarding passes; Lisbon skyline from plane; first pasteis de nata.
People: candid shots of CCFP reps (with consent), mini-quotes on “what I’m most excited to learn at WONCA”.
Place: outside Lisbon Congress Centre, Exhibition Hall (Pavilion 2), Belém Tower sunrise, 25 de Abril Bridge. woncaworld2025.org
Program: Opening Ceremony stage, posters, workshops, country meetups.
Movement: a few frames from the run/walks on the riverside. woncaworld2025.org
The Caribbean College of Family Physicians (CCFP) Jamaica Chapter invites you to Women’s Health Webinar Part II: Endocrinology, ENT & Ethics.
Theme:Intersection between Physical and Mental Health in Women – Exploring the Clinical and Ethical Considerations Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025 Zoom Room Opens: 9:00 AM (Jamaica Time) CME Credits Requested:4 (including 1 Ethics) Registration & Attendance:FREE CME Certificate Cost:J$2,000
Programme Highlights & Presenters
Advances in Endocrinology in Women’s Health – Prof. Marshall Tulloch-Reid (Professor of Epidemiology & Endocrinology)
Account Name: Caribbean College of Family Physicians (CCFP)
Bank/Branch: NCB Manor Park or Constant Spring Financial Centre
Account Type: J$ Business Chequing
Account #: 331001678
You can also register and pay by clicking each icon on the flyer below.
Send payment confirmation (proof of payment) to:ccfpsecretary@gmail.com Please include: Full Name, Professional Title, Mobile Number, and Zoom Registration Email so we can match your payment to your certificate.
🌸 Invitation to Register: Women’s Health Part II Virtual Conference 🌸
The Caribbean College of Family Physicians (CCFP) Jamaica Chapter invites you to register for the upcoming Women’s Health, Part II Virtual Conference, an engaging and insightful event dedicated to advancing women’s health and wellness.
📅 Date/Time: Sunday, September 21, 2025/9:00am Jamaica Time
🌐 Format: Virtual Conference
Join us as we bring together experts in Endocrinology, ENT, and Ethics under the theme: “Intersection between Physical and Mental Health in Women: Exploring the Clinical and Ethical Considerations.”
This conference is designed for physicians, healthcare professionals, and students seeking to enhance their knowledge, strengthen clinical practice, and engage in meaningful discussions on the complexities of women’s health.
In a breaking
news story today two men died after they were attacked by a group of masked
assailants in a drive by shooting in a quiet neighborhood last night. They were
rushed to the hospital where some overworked doctors battled courageously, but
unsuccessfully, to keep them alive.
The neighbors
all voiced opinions. These were good men, they were very friendly in the
neighborhood. They talked to everybody.We need to stop the guns coming into this country, and we need regular
police patrols in this area. The ‘drug situation’ is really out of hand. On the
call-in programs, there was almost universal agreement that ‘this little rock’
had become too violent. The police offered to step up patrols in the area. Security
and tourism officials, in particular, pledged enhanced security for visitors
and locals alike. Everyone agreed that ‘something’ needed to be done urgently.
At the same
time, and in the same hospital, the NCDs (non-communicable diseases) like heart
attacks, strokes, kidney disease and even some cancers took a few lives.But apart for immediate family members and
perhaps a few co-workers, there were no outward signs of anguish. There was no
news flash. People did not phone in to the call-in programs, and the mass media
did not send out their reporters to interview family and friends. People were
dying so frequently from the complications of the NCDs that extending ‘thoughts
and prayers’ meant little more than saying “Good morning. A nice day”.
While this
author lives in Barbados, this story is not unique to Barbados. A 2024 United
Nations report spoke of an "intensification
of organized crime and … lethal violence" across
the Caribbean region. It said surging drug production in South America, which
often passes through the Caribbean on its way to the US and Europe, and the
high availability of firearms, had "contributed to soaring homicide
rates". It named Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad as particular areas for
concern. Instead it said "most gangs in the Caribbean" were
"typically parochial, and focused instead on protecting their
territory". It added that the gangs were more often involved in local drug
dealing, prostitution, scams, extortion, disrupting elections and securing
government contracts.
Returning to
the NCDs, it is no surprise that these are all called ‘silent killers’.Conditions like obesity, diabetes and
hypertension, and their complications, are our major killers, in most of the
islands, are all considered as preventable in medical circles, but attract
little active efforts to prevent them. Statistical analysis over the years
point to a growing obesity problem, with obesity serving as a platform around
which many of the NCDs develop. The number of overweight and obese persons keep
getting bigger, and the numbers of persons who develop diabetes and
hypertension keep rising. We keep enlarging the Emergency Department at the
Hospital, and establishing more private Emergency clinics, but the suffering
and deaths keep rising. We are producing more doctors every year, at the same
time it takes longer and longer to see a doctor. And the national health expenditure
keeps rising and rising, even as the local population is falling.
When a tap is
leaking and the floor is getting wet, one can either respond by trying to stop
the leak, or buying a bigger mop to keep the floor dry. Building more Emergency clinics is like
investing in bigger and bigger mops.
When a citizen
dies violently at the hands of masked gunmen, there is a major outcry for officials
to ‘do something’. Our National Security apparatus must be mobilized.
Communities are encouraged to come together. Our border patrols must be
tightened. Politicians of various parties do not hesitate to comment on their
party’s commitment to tackling ‘crime and violence’.
When a citizen
dies from an NCD, there is ‘the sound of silence’. There is no call for the
Ministry of Health and Wellness to resuscitate any ‘health promotion and
disease prevention’ initiatives. The NCDs will continue to be called ‘the
silent killers’. And if this is our response, or lack of a response, to the NCD
epidemic, we will face an even greater challenge facing the twin epidemics: the
NCDs and the Climate Change.
The natural environment makes development on
our planet possible. However, waste,
misuse and carelessness towards natural resources by man have impacted people’s
quality of life and generated a multitude of environmental problems.
Increasingly, it is necessary to think about
our present and our future generations.
We have been trained in human health.How adequately trained are we in Planetary
Health/One Health?Protecting the
Planet, protects us!There is urgency to
protect the planet.How can we help?
It has been determined that Family Physicians
are the best suited to advocate and raise awareness of Planetary Health. But
how aware are Family Physicians of Planetary Health and its importance to life,
and livelihood?
A Situational Analysis (Research Study) was
conducted in 2021 between the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine,
Trinidad, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences (Dr.
Sandeep Maharaj, T. Forbes, T. Guerra, T. Kanhai, T. McGregor, T. Seales, T.
Rattan and the Caribbean College of Family Physicians (Prof. Marvin Reid, Dr.
Paula Henry, Dr. Aldyth Buckland) on Planetary Health Knowledge, Attitude and
Practice of Caribbean Physicians of the Caribbean College of Family Physicians:
their
knowledge of planetary health,
their
ability to implement planetary health concepts in their practice, and
the
challenges that may impede implementation.
Research Study Discussion:
●“Due to low responses and
completion rates of our study’s survey, it was difficult to make
generalizations and directly assess Family Physicians’ prior knowledge
regarding planetary health.”
●“100% respondents indicated that
they believed climate change, a major constituent of planetary health, is real
and a majority believe that climate change affects human health.”
●“Family Physicians show an overall
favorable attitude towards their roles in the implementation of planetary
health-oriented treatments and practices.”
●“Family Physicians confirmed
numerous challenges hindered the implementation of the planetary health
practices such as patient hesitancy to adapt to more sustainable treatment
plans.”
Research Study Conclusion (GAP Analysis):
●Data collection based on our
sample size has revealed that there is a need for Family Physicians, General
Practitioners and other health care professionals to discuss the importance of
Planetary Health.
●Main issues in implementing
planetary health were poor adherence to planetary health-oriented treatments, a
lack of time during consultations, a lack of support from the government and
colleagues and patients’ disinterest in discussing planetary health.
●Continuing medical education and
seminars are required to encourage Family Physicians to implement planetary
health policies in their practice.
Planetary
Health Strategies to raise awareness, resiliency and sustainability:
Continued Medical Education on Planetary Health/ One Health
Plan to restore biodiversity - topics for
awareness and action:
Land- protect wild
areas
Farming- make
better for nature
Cities-make space
for nature
Oceans- protect
marine habitats
Water- safeguard
rivers and lakes for wildlife
Climate- reduce
impacts on climate change
Food- plant based
diet, reduce waste
One Health-
collaborate and manage whole environments to aid health
Plan on areas of planetary health behaviour and
change
a.Prescriptions for Planetary Health Behaviour
and Change. This can be done through
shared storytelling and in social media.The following talking points bring awareness to planetary health
lifestyle changes that we can practice with patients.Urgent and transformative actions are needed
now to protect present and future generations.TemplateRx:
1.Reconnecting (with community, with nature, with green spaces)
2.Transport (active transport, public transport, reduce flying)
3.Food (eat plants, local consumption, reduce waste)
5.Consumption (fix what you have, buy less, buy ethical, recycle)
6.Equity and justice (racial, gender, social)
(Clinicians 4
planetary health, July 2020)
b. Planetary
Health and the Practitioner- reimagining
our practice
Protecting nature
to protect ourselves is an urgent call to action:
1.Teach patients to think on purpose:“is my activity safe for me, safe for you, safe for the community, safe
for the environment”.
2.Teach respectful relationships with all: God, self, other- family and
community, animals, plants, environment.
3.Greening our Practice:
a.Assess your current environmental impact:identify the key areas of your practice that
contribute most to environmental strain, such as energy use, water consumption,
waste generation, and purchasing habits.
b.Set clear and measurable goals: define what you want to achieve, such
as reducing paper waste by a specific percentage, increasing recycling rates,
or decreasing energy consumption by a certain amount.
c.Implement sustainable purchasing: choose to buy products that are
environmentally friendly, recyclable and locally sourced so as to support
sustainable supply chains.
d.Improve waste management: focus on the principles of waste reduction,
reuse, recycling to divert waste from landfills and promote a circular economy.
e.Enhance energy efficiency: invest in energy- efficient equipment,
utilize renewable energy sources, and promote energy-saving behaviours to
reduce your carbon footprint.
f.Incorporate green infrastructure: include natural landscaping to
improve air quality and biodiversity.Avoid artificial turf which is harmfulto people and the environment.
g.Educate and engage stakeholders: inform employees, customers, or
community members about your green initiatives and encourage their
participation and support for these efforts.
h.Monitor progress and adapt: regularly review your green practices to
track progress, identify new opportunities, and make adjustments as needed to
ensure continuous improvement.
4.What is patient’s current Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) status? Relevance?
Rewards? Wall/ Social Poster.Think in
terms of:
a.Donate what you don’t use ( SDG 1
- no poverty)
b.Waste less food and support local
farmers (SDG 2- zero hunger)
c.Vaccinate your family ( SDG 3 -
Good health and well-being)
d.Help educate the children in your
community ( SDG 4 - Quality education)
e.Empower women and girls to ensure
their equal rights(SDG 5 - Gender
equality)
f.Avoid wasting water (SDG 6- Clean
water and sanitation)
g.Use only energy efficient
appliances and light bulbs (SDG 7 - Affordable and clean energy)
h.Create job opportunities for youth
(SDG 8- Decent work and economic growth)
i.Fund projects that provide basic
infrastructure (SDG 9 - Industry, innovation, infrastructure)
j.Support the marginalized and
disadvantaged (SDG 10- Reduced inequalities)
k.Bike, walk or use public
transportation (SDG 11- Sustainable cities and communities)
m.Act now to stop global warming (
SDG 13- Climate Action)
n.Avoid plastic bags to keep the
oceans clean (SDG 14- Life below water)
o.Plant a tree and help protect the
environment (SDG 15- Life on land)
p.Stand up for human rights ( SDG
16- Peace, Justice and strong institutions)
q.Lobby your Government to boost
development financing ( SDG 17- Partnerships)
5. Disaster
Preparedness and Emergency Management
-Follow the Office of Disaster
Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM -Jamaica) policy and guidance for
people, pets, livestock.Note: Emergency
Shelters do not take in pets.
-Training in Disaster Preparedness
and Emergency Management (Red Cross Jamaica)
6.Practice Sepsis prevention and
management
-Infection Prevention and Control,
-Anti-Microbial Resistance
Stewardship,
-Early sepsis recognition in the
community and
-Early sepsis management by the
Family Doctor
(Resource:
Caribbean Sepsis and AMR Alliance website)
7. Climate
Change considerations on Cause of Death Certificates
In completing a cause of death certificate,
please consider the impacts of climate change on health and death. Please
reflect on these eight scenarios:
Name of Deceased:
Age:
Last seen:
Died on:
Scenario
1
Cause of death:
a.Injuries, fatalities, mental health impacts as a consequence of
b.Severe weather as a consequence
of
c. Climate
Change (Rising temperatures, more extreme weather, rising sea levels,
increasing CO2 levels)
Scenario
2
Cause of death:
Asthma,
cardiovascular disease, cancer as a
consequence of
Air
pollution as a consequence of
Climate Change (Rising
temperatures, more extreme weather, rising sea levels, increasing CO2
levels)
Scenario
3
Cause of death:
Malaria,
Dengue, Encephalitis, Hantavirus, Rift Valley fever, Lyme disease,
Chikungunya, West Nile Virus as a
consequence of
Changes in
vector ecology as a consequence of
Climate Change (Rising
temperatures, more extreme weather, rising sea levels, increasing CO2
levels)
Scenario
4
Cause of death:
Respiratory
allergies, asthma as a consequence
of
Increasing
allergens as a consequence of
Climate Change (Rising
temperatures, more extreme weather, rising sea levels, increasing CO2
levels)
Scenario
5
Cause of death:
Cholera,
cryptosporidiosis, campylobacter, leptospirosis, harmful algal blooms as a consequence of
Water
quality impacts as a consequence of
Climate Change (Rising
temperatures, more extreme weather, rising sea levels, increasing CO2
levels)
Scenario
6
Cause of death:
Malnutrition,
diarrheal diseases as a consequence
of
Water and
food supply impacts as a
consequence of
Climate Change (Rising
temperatures, more extreme weather, rising sea levels, increasing CO2
levels)
Scenario
7
Cause of death:
Forced
migration, civil conflicts, mental health impacts as a consequence of
Environmental
degradation as a consequence of
Climate Change (Rising
temperatures, more extreme weather, rising sea levels, increasing CO2
levels)
Scenario
8
Cause of death:
Heat
related illness and death, cardiovascular failure as a consequence of
Extreme
heat as a consequence of
Climate Change (Rising
temperatures, more extreme weather, rising sea levels, increasing CO2
levels)
Yes, Climate Change impacts Health and the
cause of Death.Climate Change is a
consideration for cause of death certificates.
Summary
This article on Planetary Health Action for
awareness, resiliency, and sustainability is a guide to assist us to help our
planet to recover so that we can continue to thrive.
Bulletin with schedule.pdf
Dates: Tuesdays & Thursdays, September 25 – October 30, 2025
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM (Uruguay Standard Time)/ 5:00-6:30 PM UTC
Format: Online (flyer attached for details)
Please click on the link above for the course schedule and registration details.
