Beyond the Call to Action

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 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.

Policy “Champions” were nurtured to assist in project messaging, and public awareness and sensitisation were addressed through a strategic communications plan. The HSFB also collaborated with HCC to form a national COP coalition, which will further drive efforts to change the obesogenic school environment to which Barbadian children are currently exposed.

The Event was held in collaboration with various partners and in support of major regional and national developments, including “Caribbean Moves”, “Jamaica Moves”,35 and “Barbados Moves”.  View/download