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On Friday 16 May 2025 the HCC in partnership with PAHO and CARPHA hosted a webinar entitled: Global Updates on Front of Package Warning Labelling showcasing progress and lessons learned, underscoring the efficacy of the evidence-based 'high in' octagonal warning label and the critical importance of a robust supportive nutrient profile model. The webinar began with a global overview, followed by sharing of country experiences from Barbados and countries outside of the region including Kenya and some of CARICOM’s key trading partners: the UK, Canada and Mexico. See details on the panelists in the webinar flyer. 

The webinar had over 450 registrants and rich audience engagement signalling the significant level of interest in advancing this policy measure.

Stephanie Whiteman (Top), Maisha Hutton (left) and Maria O’Brien, delivering remarks at the the UN Interactive Multistakeholder Hearing

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) recently attended the UN Interactive Multistakeholder Hearing (MSH) as part of the preparatory process for the Fourth high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being (HLM4) to be held on 25 September 2025 at the 80th UNGA. The purpose of the MSH is to gather broad stakeholder feedback on NCD and mental health priorities to inform the development of the zero draft of the Political Declaration.

HCC’s team was represented by Dr. Karen Sealey (Board Member and Founding Director of TT NCD Alliance also current Trustee of WOF); Ms. Diana Gittens (Member of HCC PLWNCDs Advisory Group, and NCDA OVOV Advocate); Ms. Stephanie Whiteman (HCY Advocate, Global Mental Health Action Network Advocate and UWI Lecturer); Ms. Maria O’Brien (Director of Mindwise TT, GMHAN Advocate and Voices of SIDS Lead); and Maisha Hutton (HCC Executive Director). Attendance at the MSH was made possible through support from NCD Alliance and GMHAN. NCD Alliance hosted a 2-day workshop in advance of the May 2, 2025 MSH, bringing together advocates from across the world. Stephanie and Maria were supported by GMHAN - who also supported a large contingent of global advocates united around advancing the mental health agenda.

Over the course of the 3 days in New York, the HCC team had the pleasure of meeting with a number of CARICOM Missions formally and informally where they presented the HCC-led civil society advocacy priorities for the HLM4 and the recently developed Briefing Note: Preparing CARICOM Ministries of Foreign Affairs for the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (HLM4) September 2025 and Beyond - a Briefing Note From Civil Society.

The HCC team met with the Missions of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Caribbean was also well represented on the actual day of the MSH held at UN Headquarters. Stephanie Whiteman delivered powerful opening remarks and Maisha Hutton was on panel 2 where she delivered a brief intervention and closing remarks. Maria O’Brien delivered an emotional intervention from the floor underscoring the importance of strong mental health programming, Ambassador Inga Rhonda King, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Permanent Representative to the United Nations also delivered the hearings closing remarks.

Other highlights include the participation of Maisha Hutton a UNICEF hosted side event entitled "Young Voices for Action: Placing Children at the Center of the NCD and Mental Health Agenda”, where she shared HCCs commitment to youth engagement and intergenerational leadership. Ambassador King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and also Co-Facilitator of the UN HLM4 process (with Ambassador Maes of Luxembourg) delivered opening remarks for the side event. HCC used this opportunity to reconnect with Ambassador King and present her with the MOFA HLM4 Guidance.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon

Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson

JIS:  The National School Nutrition Policy, which aims to ensure that children are healthy and ready to learn, is to be implemented in all early-childhood, primary, secondary, and special education schools, both public and private. 

A copy of the policy, which was recently approved by Cabinet, was tabled in the Senate May 9, by Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon.

Related Media:

Jamaica Observer: Heart Foundation applauds approval of National School Nutrition Policy white paper.

The Gleaner: Africka Stephens | School Nutrition Policy is a long-awaited step forward.

The Gleaner: Gov’t rolls out nutrition policy for schools. 

The Gleaner: Youth advocacy group calls for strong implementation of School Nutrition Policy.

The Gleaner: Andrene Chung | School Nutrition Policy White Paper a step in the right direction – Now let’s see action.

Jamaica Observer: UNICEF and PAHO laud government on approval of national school nutrition policy.

Loop News: Education Minister tables National School Nutrition policy in the Senate.

Image: © Calendarr

On World Hypertension Day 2025, we must raise awareness about the obstacles to effective blood pressure management. Alarmingly, over half of individuals with hypertension are completely unaware of their condition. Furthermore, many who are diagnosed do not receive proper treatment, and those receiving treatment often fail to achieve adequate control. We must also address the social factors that influence blood pressure regulation. 

These factors include the unrestricted availability of ultra-processed foods in environments lacking healthy options. By implementing strong public health policies like front-of-package warning labels, we can create healthier food environments. Additional measures such as educating the public on salt reduction, mandating the elimination of trans-fats in foods, and introducing taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages will further support this goal. 

We also need to strengthen interventions at the primary care level with the implementation of evidence based clinical interventions to reduce the burden of hypertension and it’s complications. These include interventions, such as the HEARTS clinical pathway and evidence based intervention in that better blood pressure control although this intervention has been implemented in over 33 countries worldwide Just only 10 of them have exceeded more than 80% of primary healthcare coverage for HEARTS. 

This World Hypertension Day calls for a unified approach between public health initiatives and addressing barriers to effective blood pressure control. We need to continue to hold our policymakers accountable to creating a healthier environment for us all with the implementation of evidence based public health measures. Take charge: measure your blood pressure, understand your numbers, and manage them effectively. 

NCD Alliance: The zero draft of the Political Declaration for the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health is finally here—marking a critical juncture in the road to September. This first full version of the negotiated text reveals where governments are aligning, what’s being prioritised, and how ambitious the global response to NCDs and mental health is shaping up to be. This is our moment to raise the bar. The zero draft offers a key window for advocates to influence the political agenda—pushing for bolder commitments, stronger accountability, and real investment in NCD prevention and care. What’s in the draft—and what’s missing—matters.

Join the NCD Alliance on Tuesday, 20 May 14:30-15:30 CEST for a special webinar to unpack the zero draft, explore advocacy entry points, and discuss next steps toward a declaration that delivers.

Date: Wednesday, May 28 | 10am to 12pm AST/EDT

On April 15, the World Health Organisation hosted a Multistakeholder Hearing Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health for Young Professionals. Simone Bishop-Matthews, HCY member, participated in one of the 2 panel discussions. In response to the question, “What are the roles of different stakeholders particularly the young professionals working in different sectors impacting health? What are their potential conflicts of interest? How can values be aligned for public health and health equity?”, she shared: 

Addressing the burden of chronic diseases can’t be just a Ministry of Health issue. Given the interplay of factors that can either increase our risk or cause conditions to progress, it requires more cross-sectoral action and breaking down silos - a key priority ahead of the UN HLM4 for HCC and an ongoing challenge for the Caribbean/SIDS. This also includes young people and young professionals who have promisingly become more recognised and valued as strong catalysts of change in building momentum/support on the ground and in the policy space.

Simone Bishop-Matthews, HCY member

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados and Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network come to mind as youth advocates were instrumental in the implementation and enforcement of their national school nutrition policy. However, the growing concern over conflicts of interest and the influence of industries that produce, promote and market health-harming products in the region, require conscious decision-making in ensuring that your work/mandate is not compromised in the process, and the implementation of/transparency on conflict-of-interest policies, especially in often resource-limited settings where these partnerships can be tempting to CSOs and youth-led organisations or groups. 

While a multi-stakeholder approach requires building relationships and collaboration in this space, prioritising and addressing the power of commercial determinants of health (another key priority for HCC ahead of the HLM4) in the NCD response is crucial.

We value the WHO’s commitment to elevating the voices of young people, especially ahead of a major milestone moment - the 4th UN High Level meeting on NCDs and Mental Health in September 2025.

NCD Alliance: Industries that produce health-harming products have a consistent track record of influencing, weakening, delaying and preventing the development and implementation of cost-effective policies for NCD prevention to protect their profits. The HLM4 is facing the same challenges. Industry actors are already approaching policymakers in New York and capitals, questioning well-established evidence and propagating common myths and misconceptions to persuade governments against committing to bold action on NCDs. Check out our myth buster to help you address industry interference.

Date: Wednesday, May 28 Time: 13:00–14:30 CET

Resolve to Save Lives: Trans Fatty Acids (TFA) are a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, yet they remain present in food supply chains around the world—especially in regions with weak or no regulation. To bring awareness to this persistent issue, the Access to Nutrition initiative (ATNi), supported by Resolve to Save Lives, is hosting a high-level virtual event: “Towards Zero Tolerance: Eliminating Trans Fats from the Edible Oil Industry.” 

During this event, we will launch the latest findings from our research, including: 

• Edible Oil Supplier Index methodology and industry findings
• An India case study on the implementation of WHO’s best-practice TFA policy

The event will also serve as a platform for stakeholders to discuss policy, share solutions, and align on actionable next steps to eliminate industrially produced TFA globally.

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WHO: With just 5 years to go before the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, a new paper from WHO/Europe identifies 25 interventions that can help countries accelerate progress towards their health commitments.

The Lancet: In 2010, WHO developed a package of evidence-based, cost-effective interventions that could reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).1 Acting at the individual and population level, these interventions targeted the leading NCD risk factors (tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity) and four disease groups (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer). The resulting list was known as the ‘NCD best buys’, and helped focus both NCD advocacy worldwide and policymaking at the country level.

The 3rd UN High-level Meeting on NCDs was held on Thursday, 27th September 2018, during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly under the theme: Scaling up multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral responses to the prevention and control of NCDs in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The HLM3 was a unique opportunity for governments to showcase progress on NCDs and make bold political commitments towards addressing the NCD epidemic.