SCLAN hosts side event during UN General Assembly

The Spouses of the CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN), with support from Gilead Sciences, the United Nations Foundation and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), hosted a side event entitled ‘Ensuring Access and Equity in Adolescents, Children and Women’s Health’, 24 September 2019 from 9 am – 11 am, during the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The conference was attended by First Ladies as well as other eminent guests who support innovative initiatives to ensure access and equity in adolescents, children and women’s health at country and global levels. Other participants included multilateral institutions, UN agencies, the private sector, and civil society organisations.

The conference facilitated dialogue on strategically advancing SCLAN’s mission of a Caribbean free from gender based violence, teenage pregnancy, cervical cancer, NCDs, HIV/AIDS, tb and malaria with a particular focus on mental health based on long-term goals set forth by the global community including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Every Woman, Every Child Global Movement and the Global Strategy for Women’s Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030).

Shahar Vasquez of Mind Health Connect in #Belize shares her personal story of survival.

“Every person has a purpose on this earth. They deserve to be heard, to be understood and to live.”@SclanCaribbean #UNGA #UNGA2019 pic.twitter.com/dVi1RH4hUs

— UNAIDS Caribbean (@UNAIDSCaribbean) September 24, 2019

The First Lady of Guyana, Mrs. Sandra Granger, was the Moderator of the event and also gave Welcome
Remarks. During the panel discussions, Chair of SCLAN and Special Envoy for Women and Children, Mrs
Kim Simplis Barrow emphasized that many of the challenges faced can be addressed with “simple,
affordable interventions”. She stressed the importance of multi-sectoral collaborations and the role First
Ladies can play “to strengthen political will, mobilize resources and implement policies and programmes
that make a difference”.

Assistant Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr, pointed to the
importance of addressing equity in order to achieve every Sustainable Development Goal.

“This is the right time to join efforts in having a more comprehensive and integrated approach. Let us complete the
job in ending poverty… giving greater voice to children and adolescents and increasing access and
quality of health and social services for everyone,” he said.

Other panellists at the session included Dr. Ami Bhatt of Global Oncology, Dr. Daniela Ligiero of Together
for Girls, Dr. Laura London of UNFPA, Dr. Cesar Nunez of UNAIDS, Dr. Betty Chiang of Gilead Sciences,
Marijke Wijnroks of the Global Fund, Sir Trevor Hassell of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition and Ms. Sahar
Vasquez of Mind Health Connect Belize.

To conclude the event, the First Ladies of Antigua and Barbuda, Haiti, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
and Trinidad and Tobago made presentations on their activities in their respective countries.

First Ladies and Spouses of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) launched its
network in September 2017, Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN), to tackle issues
related to the health and well -being of women, adolescents and children in the Caribbean. SCLAN is a
non-governmental organisation endorsed by CARICOM Heads of Government.

For additional information, please contact info@sclan.org
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Source: CARICOM TODAY