Beyond the Call to Action Event: Towards School Policies in Support of Childhood Obesity Prevention, took place on Tuesday November 20th, 2018, United Nations Universal Children’s Day, at the Hilton Hotel, Barbados.
The event was supported through a grant from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) with the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) and HCC’s ongoing support from Sagicor Life Inc.. The event took place in partnership with Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness, Barbados Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Barbados National NCD Commission, Barbados Wellness Task Force, Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, PAHO, CARPHA, UWI Open Campus, Jamaica Moves and Caribbean Moves.
On United Nations Universal Children’s Day, Tuesday November 20th, as the world focussed on the welfare of its children, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados brought together a wide cross section of national and regional stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of the Call to Action (CTA) and to chart the way forward.
The meeting provided a unique opportunity for CSOs to take stock of progress made over the course of the implementation of the Call to Action and to share national and regional successes and lessons learned in childhood obesity prevention advocacy platforms. The one-day forum also served to leverage the energy and momentum of the past seven months and redirect it towards focussed evidence-based advocacy in support of creating healthy school environments in Barbados and across the region.
In a parallel youth empowerment session, moderated by Krystal Boyea, HCC Youth Advocate, young people were purposefully engaged to ensure their voices were heard and integrated into all aspects of the planning, implementation, dialogue, outcomes and next steps.
Meeting Resources
Meeting Report – The HCC and the HSFB, through grants from the GHAI, as well as Sagicor Life Inc.’s ongoing support to HCC, provided funding to convene the Event and officially close the Call to Action for COP.
One of the results of the GHAI grant to the HSFB is the Foundation’s ongoing advocacy campaign centred on creating a healthier school environment for children. In line with the CTA, the HSFB tailored its campaign to advocate for banning the sale and promotion of unhealthy beverages and foods in schools in Barbados. Aiming to advance the development and implementation of relevant school-based policies, the HSFB engaged the Ministries of Health and Wellness, and Education, Technological and Vocational Training in the project, and conducted stakeholder meetings though a campaign launch and a one-day conference on this policy area. View/download
Presentations:
- Advocacy for Healthy School Environments: Insights from Jamaica – Barbara McGaw, Project Manager – Global Health Advocacy Project, Heart Foundation of Jamaica
- Bahamas School Guidelines – Mrs. Camelta Barnes, Ministry of Health, The Bahamas
- Barbados Nutritional Guidelines – Dr. Natasha Sobers, George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre
- Childhood Obesity Prevention: The Policy vs Legislation Conundrum – Nicole D. Foster, Attorney-at-Law, Law Lecturer, UWI Cave Hill & HCC Policy Advisor
- Bermuda Healthy Schools Policies – Ms. Marie Beach, Healthy Schools Coordinator, Department of Health, Bermuda
- School-Based Policies to Counter obesity and overweight – Regional and Global examples – Dr. Godfrey Xuereb, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
- Advocacy for Banning SSBs in Barbadian Schools: Presentation of HSFB’s CHOP Campaign – Fiona Anthony, CEO, Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados
Photos by Studio Studio, Carl Blenman.