Image: WHO/PAHO

PAHO: Appealing flavours, but hidden dangers. Shameless manipulation of our children, for industry profit. 

Every day, tobacco and nicotine industries use carefully engineered products and deceptive tactics to hook a new generation of users and keep existing ones. 

Keep the industry out. 

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On Wednesday 28th May 2025, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition and partners hosted a regional webinar entitled: Act on Facts - Let’s Do Better For the Children. This session drew over 200 registrants including representatives from civil society, government, academia, and youth. 

The webinar spotlighted two regional campaigns: #ActOnFacts – The Food in our Schools Matter and Let’s Do Better For the Children, both aimed at building public support for the regional implementation of school nutrition policies which ban the marketing of ultra-processed products in and around schools.

Panellists shared insights on policy progress, successes and challenges in Barbados, Belize, Grenada, and Jamaica, and explored issues such as industry marketing tactics, legal protections for children, and the power of youth advocacy. The event concluded with a compelling youth-led conversation on safeguarding school food environments with the Honourable Davidson Ishmael, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Barbados and Dr Timar Stephenson, Senior Education Officer, Policy Analysis and Research, Planning and Development Division, Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Jamaica.

Danielle Walwyn, Advocacy Officer, Lead, Healthy Caribbean Youth (HCY)

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) Advocacy Officer and Lead of Healthy Caribbean Youth (HCY - the youth arm of the HCC) Danielle Walwyn recently attended the 78th World Health Assembly(WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland in her capacity as WHO Youth Council member. The HCC Board Member Dr. Karen Sealey also attended the WHA in her capacity as member of the Board of Trustees of the World Obesity Federation. The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO and is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States. During this WHA, the historic Pandemic Agreement was adopted.

Some of the NCD-focused items being discussed included:

• The importance of social connection in health and wellbeing for people of all ages
• Recommitment to tackling malnutrition in mothers, infants and young children, and agreed to new indicators to advance progress in critical areas like diversifying diets and breastfeeding
• Extension of the timeline for global action plan on dementia
• Official World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day (November 17)
• Commitment to regulating the digital marketing of formula milk and baby foods

Danielle’s attendance at the WHA was made possible through KIDSforSDGs which currently supports WHO Youth Council initiatives. The HCC/HCY is now represented on the Council by Danielle Walwyn and Pierre Kevin Cooke Jr, HCC Technical Advisor as of October 2024 for a 2-year term.

Over the course of the 4 days spent in Geneva, Danielle supported WHO Youth Council Events including, “Youth in Health Diplomacy: Progress on Youth Delegate Programs & the Road to the UN HLM on NCDs” during which Ms. Annastacia Jordan, Barbados Chief Nursing Officer was able to share an intervention on Barbados’ approach to youth engagement. Danielle also shared an intervention about HCYs concerns with the recently launched Zero Draft Political Declaration during this event which included the absence of institutionalized engagement of youth, persons living with NCDs in NCD-decision making, the climate-health nexus and safeguards for policymaking spaces. 

She co-moderated a unique panel discussion led by the WHO Youth Council - “Reframing Planetary Health in Geopolitical Crises”. Dr. David Johnson, United for Global Health member and President of Let’s Unpack It was a panelist. 

Danielle met with Member States informally to discuss the HCC-led civil society advocacy priorities for the HLM4, the proposed resolution on Regulating the digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes and explore opportunities for youth engagement in health decision making spaces like the WHA. 

L to R: Dr. Karen Sealey, HCC board Member and Founding Director of the Trinidad and Tobago NCD Alliance, Katie Dain, Chief Executive Officer, NCD Alliance, Deborah Chen, HCC Board Member and Executive Director of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, Leslie Rae Ferat, President, NCD Alliance

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition was represented at the 2025 World Heart Summit in Geneva, which preceded the 78th World Health Assembly. Deborah Chen, HCC Board Member and Executive Director of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica was joined by Dr. Karen Sealey, also an HCC board Member and Founding Director of the Trinidad and Tobago NCD Alliance.

Vital Strategies: A guide to introducing effective front-of-package nutrient labels As global diets have increasingly shifted toward foods and beverages that are high in fat, salt and sugar and often ultra-processed, governments are urgently seeking solutions to reduce the burden of unhealthy diets. Front-of-package labels are an effective policy measure to provide consumers with clear information about the nutritional content of the foods they purchase. 

The second edition of “What’s in Our Food? A guide to introducing front-of-package nutrient labels” is a roadmap to adopt effective front-of-package labeling, which empower consumers to identify and reduce their consumption of unhealthy foods. 

The guidebook was produced by Vital Strategies in partnership with the Global Health Advocacy Incubator and the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown Law.

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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.

Principal of George Lamming Primary School, Ronald Wilson, with students viewing the School Nutrition Policy sign board

Photo: Barbados Today

Barbados Today:  George Lamming Primary received a special visit from youth advocates of the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados, in recognition of its admirable achievements in implementing the School Nutrition Policy (SNP). The visit, which took place on May 15, highlighted the school’s comprehensive and innovative approach to promoting health and wellness across its entire curriculum. The event was also part of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition’s regional youth-led campaign, Hope for the Future, which was initiated in 2024.

Facilitators and participants at NIC’s health workshop 

Photo: NIC

The Voice St. Lucia: In light of the alarming impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on the population, Saint Lucia’s health authorities are taking decisive action by promoting a comprehensive health programme aimed at instilling healthy lifestyles among citizens. 

With more than 80% of deaths attributed to NCDs, the urgency of this initiative cannot be overstated.

Antigua & Barbuda Minister for Health and Wellness, Sir Molwyn Joseph 

Antigua Observer: Minister for Health and Wellness, Sir Molwyn Joseph, addressed the Cabinet on Wednesday regarding the importance of a cervical cancer awareness campaign, which would run alongside the government’s ongoing education efforts. The Minister’s proposal was endorsed by the Cabinet, which approved the engagement of a local expert to advise on and oversee this aspect of the campaign. 

Sir Molwyn also addressed the issue of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), and the Cabinet has approved the implementation of a mobile testing unit, which will travel across the island, offering screenings for NCDs.

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PAHO: Hypertension is the world’s leading killer. It causes heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, worsens diabetes, and is a major contributor to dementia. In the Americas, cardiovascular disease claims more than 2.2 million lives each year—that’s over 6,000 people every single day. While healthy lifestyles—staying active, eating fresh foods, reducing salt—are essential for prevention, they’re not enough. Nearly 4 in 10 adults in the region have hypertension, and one-third don’t even know it. Among those diagnosed, only 60% have their blood pressure controlled.

Wednesday, June 4, 2025 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM ET