GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – The Public Health Department (PHD) from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), is looking for field interviewers for the upcoming “How Healthy is Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin” study, a joint project between the Ministry of VSA and the Collectivite of Saint-Martin.  The deadline to apply is Friday, August 7^th.

The job entails conducting house- to- house interviews using a mobile device, after participating in interview training. A stipend will be provided per completed interview.

The health study is a population based survey that is used to establish the subjectively experienced health of the population, its health determinants, medical consumption and the factors affecting the consumption.

The results of the survey will lead to proper accurate and current health statistics for evidenced-based policy and programming for both sides of the island.

Persons interested in becoming a field interviewer must be 18-years or older and have a social or medical background. 

Interested persons can submit their application letter and resume to:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

SINT MAARTEN – United Nations officials are marking the annualWorld Breastfeeding Week by highlighting the vital importance of a practice that gives children the healthiest start in life and the need to strengthen policies to promote nursing with stronger workplace policies.

The theme for this year’s observance, held from 1 to 7 August, is “Women and work – Let’s make it work,” which emphasizes the need for better support systems and policies to enable working mothers to breastfeed.

“We know that breastfeeding helps children to survive and thrive – enabling infants to withstand infections, providing critical nutrients for the early development of their brains and bodies, and strengthening the bond between mothers and their babies. And the benefits of breastfeeding last a lifetime,” said the heads of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Anthony Lake, and the World Health Organization (WHO), Margaret Chan, in ajoint statement.

The statement points out that a recent Lancet study found that infants who were breastfed for at least one year went on to stay in school longer, score higher on intelligence tests and earn more as adults than those who were breastfed for only a month. Despite this growing evidence, only 38 per cent of infants around the world today are breastfed exclusively for even the recommended first six months of life.

While breastfeeding rates have increased in all regions of the world, global progress has stalled. The World Health Assembly has set a global target of increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates for children less than six months of age to at least 50 per cent by 2025.

“To achieve this ambitious and very important goal, we need to tackle all the barriers to breastfeeding,” said Mr. Lake and Dr. Chan. “Governments should lead the charge by making breastfeeding a policy priority in national development plans, increasing resources for programming that supports breastfeeding, and working with communities and families to promote the full benefits of breastfeeding.”

Also, more must be done to overcome an obstacle that prevents potentially millions of women from breastfeeding: Workplace policies that do not support the right of working mothers to breastfeed their babies on the job.

Today, of the approximately 830 million women workers in the world, the majority do not benefit from workplace policies that support nursing mothers, and this figure does not include women working in informal, seasonal or part-time employment – often the poorest women in poorer countries – who may face even greater barriers to continued breastfeeding. This is not only a loss to working mothers and their babies. It is also a loss to employers.

Working mothers with adequate maternity benefits, including a breastfeeding-supportive workplace, report increased job satisfaction and greater loyalty to their employers. Breastfed children fall sick less often, so their mothers are also less frequently absent from work. These effects in turn contribute to higher productivity – ultimately benefiting businesses and the larger economies to which they contribute.

Recognizing these connections, the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted three Conventions to establish protective measures for pregnant women and new mothers – including the right to continue breastfeeding – and to promote feasible options for women who are outside formal work settings. Globally, 67 countries have ratified at least one of the three maternity protection conventions.

The UN officials stressed that more governments should join the growing movement and take action to implement these important protections.

“We know that breastfeeding improves the lives of millions of children and ultimately benefits families, communities, and societies. Our challenge now is to make breastfeeding work in the workplace, too. Together, we can help working women to breastfeed and reap the benefits for themselves, for their children, and for the health and well-being of future generations.”

WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding to begin within one hour after birth until six months of age. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years or beyond.

LONDON, UK – The UK’s love affair with the films by Antigua & Barbuda’s number one filmmaking duo continues.
On Saturday, July 25, 2015, The Sweetest Mango, which was the first feature directed and produced by Howard and Mitzi Allen of HAMAFilms was screened at the London #CaribbeanSummerSeason of Films.
Released in 2001, the romantic comedy is based on how the filmmakers met and fell in love. Following the screening at London's Bernie Grant Arts Centre, the audience got a further treat with a Q&A discussion with Howard and Mitzi, along with UK actress Julie Hewlett (Eastenders, The Bill) live by video link from Antigua.

The film, which is now archived in the TIFF Bell Lightbox Film Reference Library, tells the story of Lovelyanne ‘Luv” Davies, who returns from Canada to Antigua and her struggles to adjust to life on a small island. It follows her professional turmoil and personal drama, including being caught in an unexpected love triangle.

In a discussion that was both entertaining and informative, Mitzi, Howard and Julie spoke about the professional and financial challenges of filmmaking in Antigua. They have addressed it by not building in Hollywood-style costs but by minimizing overheads and ensuring that monetary returns can be met through local businesses and audiences.

They also spoke about how awareness is growing in that film and television are important exporters of culture. Discussions also touched on the varying outcomes and experiences that people have when they travel "back home" for love; the expectations on women to "marry up"; how some traditions hold back women's independence; and how the diaspora is treated when they return and the struggle to find the balance between being modern efficient societies and retaining a sense of "Caribbeanness".

Ron Belgrave of Sankofa TV shared with Mitzi following the Q&A “It was clear, from the way the audience engaged, that what you (and Howard) achieved with "Mango" was not only significant in terms of setting a platform for a new quality of filmmaking in Antigua but has helped in a broader social debate in helping the Caribbean to pursue its rightful place in the 21st Century.


“In addition - and this is again clear and naturally/effortlessly derived from your relationship with Howard - one aspect that people really like is the supportive and positive ambience between man and woman in your films. In a way, some might say that is to be expected in a romantic film like Sweetest Mango but where it often has more impact is where it is not necessarily expected (such as in a supernatural thriller like The Skin). The audience at the BFMIFF screening of The Skin on 5 July commented particularly on how they appreciated the way the couple interacted with each other in that film.”

Howard and Mitzi's next project is a drama called "Deep Blue" about a marine biologist that helps a fishing village threatened by environmental/climate change (as a topical issue affecting Antigua & Barbuda). The film is expected to be released in summer 2016.

Julie also stars in "Deep Blue" and frequently travels back to the UK where she is available for British-based acting projects.

The #CaribbeanSummerSeason for 2015 continues every Saturday evening (7pm) until Carnival weekend at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre. Details atwww.sankofa-tv.co.uk

Follow the journey of Howard & Mitzi Allen atwww.hamafilms.com.

INTERNATIONAL – The United Nations General Assembly today marked Nelson Mandela International Day – which is observed on 18 July – by awarding the first-everUN Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, recognizing the South African leader’s contributions to democracy, justice and reconciliation and his dedication to the service of humanity.

“Nelson Mandela International Dayis a global call to action for all citizens of the world, to take up the challenge and follow in the formidable footsteps of Madiba; a man who transformed his life, served his country and freed his people,” General Assembly President Sam Kutesa told an informal meeting of the 193-member body.

The Prize, he explained, was designed to honour and recognize the “outstanding achievements” of two distinguished individuals, one female and one male, who have dedicated their lives to the service to humanity, particularly in the promotion of reconciliation, social cohesion and community development.

The first two laureates of the Prize are Dr. Helena Ndume of Namibia and Jorge Fernando Branco Sampaio of Portugal. Dr. Ndume of Namibia is an ophthalmologist whose life’s work has been the treatment of blindness and eye-related illnesses, both in Namibia and throughout the developing world.

Mr. Sampaio of Portugal became a leader in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Portugal, and served as Deputy Minister for External Co-operation; as Mayor of Lisbon from 1989 to 1995; and, from 1996 to 2006, as President of the country.

The Prize was also established to pay homage to Nelson Mandela’sextraordinary lifeand legacy of reconciliation, political transition and social transformation.

“Nelson Mandela inspired the world, inspired all of us,” said UNSecretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon inremarks delivered by his Chef de Cabinet, Susana Malcorra. “Although he suffered terrible atrocities, ‘Madiba’ never sank to the level of his oppressors; instead, he rose to the moment in history.”

The United Nations no longer has apartheid on its agenda, but the international community continues to confront racial and other forms of discrimination that drive abuses and violence in all countries, Ms. Malcorra stressed. “On this Day, let us pay tribute to Nelson Mandela by actively fighting for human rights, development and peace in our communities and our world.”

Every year, as part of theTake Action, Inspire Changecampaign on Nelson Mandela International Day, individuals throughout the world are encouraged to devote 67 minutes to helping others – by volunteering in a hospital, tutoring a child, providing food for the homeless, or any other community service activity.

The campaign is based on people devoting one minute of their time for every year that Nelson Mandela devoted to public service – as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and as the President of South Africa.

Later today, at The UN Headquarters, staff volunteers will partner with New York City Parks’ Green Thumb programme to tend community gardens in Manhattan, lending support to important green spaces in the city.

Some of the volunteers will be working in the newly established United Nations Food Garden, which will be officially opened today by Ms. Malcorra, along with the New York City Commissioner for International Affairs, Penny Abeywardena, and the New York City Commissioner for Parks and Recreation, Mitchell Silver.

The event will be hosted by the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Cristina Gallach.

The United Nations Food Garden is an initiative of a group of United Nations staff members who partnered with NYC Parks’ Green Thumb programme and Brooklyn Grange to transform unused land at the Headquarters complex into sustainable food gardens.