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HSFB appoints Project Officer
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The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados has taken another
step in its efforts to fight the scourge of smoking in Barbados with the
appointment of a Project Officer, Tobacco Control. He is Wayne Hunte, who brings
to the post a wealth of experience in the field of project management and
communication, and extensive knowledge of working with the NGO sector and the
media.
The appointment comes as a result of a grant received from
the Bloomberg Global Initiative to a partnership of four Caribbean NGOs – the
Heart Foundation of Jamaica, The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados, The
Trinidad & Tobago Cancer Society and the Guyana Chest Society. The two-year
funding programme is in order to ensure the implementation of rotating
picture-based package warnings on tobacco products sold in CARICOM countries.
The Bloomberg Project’s primary objective is to achieve a
strong CARICOM cigarette labeling standard, which is currently being updated and
circulated for comment throughout the Caribbean, and to ensure implementation of
the standard or equally strong requirements in the four targeted countries –
Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.
Mr. Hunte’s appointment was effective June 17th 2008. A
trained Project Planner and Substance Abuse Counselor, Mr. Hunte, 45, received
his early education at the Guyana Oriental College and has a Social Sciences
Diploma in Marketing from the University of Guyana. He also holds a Diploma in
Information Technology from the University of The West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill
Campus.
He has Certificates in Health Communication for Behaviour
Change, and in Advocacy Communication, both from the Mona Campus of the UWI, as
well as a Certificate in Fundamentals of Addiction, from the Caribbean Institute
of Alcoholism and Other Drugs, in Trinidad & Tobago. He holds professional
Certification in Project Management.
His recent working experience includes positions as Project
Officer and Special Projects Officer, External Community Facilitator with the
National Council for Drug Education and Rehabilitation, and Behaviour Change
Communication Coordinator with Population Services International, a social
marketing project funded by the United Stated Agency for International
Development.
He also served as Public Relations Officer for Lifeline
Counseling Services and as Consultant with the Regional Human Resource
Development Programme for Economic Competitiveness, funded by Canadian
International Development Agency.
Before taking up the position with the Heart & Stroke
Foundation of Barbados he was a freelance Project Facilitator, developing social
marketing ideas that use mass media and liaison with international organizations
and private sector agencies for corporate sponsorship.
In recognizing the tremendous but worthwhile challenge that
lies in his appointment, Mr. Hunte looks forward to working with the other
organizations in CARICOM involved in the project, and with the various
stakeholders in Barbados. These include NGOs and other institutions, as well as
individuals, who share a common purpose.
He pointed out that this will entail networking with the
partners in the Region, setting goals and deadlines, and developing and
implementing sensitization programmes that will explain the issues involved.
“Ultimately this will allow people throughout the Region to be more informed
about the harmful effects of smoking tobacco” he said.
“Project strategies will include lobbying of national
politicians, raising awareness among key decision makers and community leaders,
and mobilizing and informing strategic sectors of the public” he added. “In the
final analysis, what we are working towards is to get a directive from
governments in the targeted countries saying to suppliers of cigarette products
to put warning notices on the boxes. This requires stakeholders coming together
to form one congruent voice.”
“As a CARICOM national” said Mr. Hunte, “this project gives
me the opportunity to add something of value to people of Barbados and the
Region. My greatest satisfaction comes from making a difference to people,
particularly as it relates to their health”, he said.
A non-smoker himself, Mr. Hunte makes a hobby of studying
medicinal plants and natural foods. He is a former member of the Georgetown
Toastmasters Club. He has also worked in the HIV/AIDS area and has trained
counselors in the programme.
In addition to his primary role as a Project Officer, Mr.
Hunte will assist with the management and implementation of other projects and
programmes related to tobacco control sponsored by the Foundation, and as a
member of the management team is expected to play an active role in supporting
the culture of the Foundation.
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