Let us ensure together that CARICOM is strongly represented on the 25th of September at the HLM4 !!

On 25 September 2025, Heads of States and Government will meet at the UN General Assembly to set a new vision for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the promotion of mental health and wellbeing towards 2030 and beyond.

Activities leading up to the UN HLM4:

• HCC dedicated HLM4 webpage.
• Regional Stakeholder Meeting on HLM4.
• Open letter to the CARICOM Heads of Government.
• What Does Health in a Secure and Sustainable Future Look Like?.

On September 25th, 2025, leaders from around the world will gather at the United Nations in New York for the 4th High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health. In the lead-up to this meeting—and during the Global Week for Action on NCDs (September 18–25)—Health civil society organisations (CSOs) from across the Caribbean are underscoring the importance of CARICOM leaders’ representation during this meeting. Several CSOs have written directly to their Prime Ministers, urging their attendance and active participation, and highlighting the value of including civil society including those representing the voices of persons living with NCDS and young people in lead up to and during these global moments. 

NCDs remain the leading cause of death and disability in the Caribbean with three of every four lives lost prematurely to conditions like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. CSOs, often at the forefront of NCD prevention and control, play a vital role in advocating for best practices, holding governments accountable, directly contributing to service delivery, and supporting persons living with NCDs and their caregivers. Despite this, civil society remains underrepresented in high-level global discussions on NCDs and other relevant health issues. The upcoming High-Level meeting presents an opportunity to change this. CSOs are calling for the formal inclusion of civil society on national delegations—not only for this Meeting but as a standard practice in future high-level fora. 

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) has participated in past UN High-Level Meetings. Their participation has allowed them to highlight the unique NCD realities in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), present experiences and lessons learned from CSOs working in NCD prevention and control, often in partnership with government actors, engage CARICOM leaders with clear advocacy asks co-developed with its membership, and strategise with partners in the global NCD community. For the upcoming High-Level Meeting, the HCC is partnering with the CARICOM Secretariat, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), to cohost a high-level side event. The side event will provide a platform for governments and key stakeholders including civil society to share achievements and post High-Level meeting plans. Including more CSOs representing the voices of persons living with NCDS and young people, can enhance regional expertise, enrich high-level discussions, and strengthen follow-up action at national and regional levels. 

This call to action builds on the 2007 Port of Spain Declaration, which positioned CARICOM as a global leader in the NCD response. That Declaration emphasised the need for a whole-of-society approach and explicitly recognised civil society as a critical partner in advancing the NCD agenda. Civil society is urging leaders to reaffirm this commitment—both in the lead-up to and beyond the High-Level Meeting - it’s time to lead again on NCDs.

NCD Alliance: The Global Week for Action on NCDs aims to unite the NCD movement each year under a specific theme, concentrating our combined efforts with the aim of reducing the NCD burden globally and increasing health and equality. Join the 2024-2025 campaign!

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On Thursday, September 11th, 2025, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition hosted a regional webinar entitled Back to School, Back to Health: Nothing at School Should Encourage Unhealthy Choices – Let’s Do Better for the Children! The virtual event attracted over 200 registrants, including civil society leaders, government officials, youth advocates, and media representatives from across the region. The webinar reintroduced the “Let’s Do Better for the Children” campaign, relaunched on August 18th with powerful back-to-school messaging. The campaign calls for stronger protections against the marketing of ultra-processed products (UPPs) – including sweetened beverages – to children, particularly in and around schools.

The webinar covered the following objectives:

• To reintroduce the ‘For the Children’ campaign, with a spotlight on updated and new materials.
• To expose and reframe industry-sponsored activities—such as school donations and sponsorships—as strategic marketing tools that grant the food and beverage industry undue influence and actively undermine school nutrition policies and children’s health.
• To explore rights-based, culturally relevant, and financially sustainable strategies to eliminate unhealthy food marketing in and around schools, while fostering strong alliances that protect school environments from corporate interference and promote the wellbeing of children.

Read the HCC press release.

Press coverage:

• Barbados Today - Businesses urged to promote healthy eating among youth (Published September 11, 2025)
• Barbados Today - Teens now suffering from ‘adult’ illnesses (Published September 11, 2025)
• Guyana Times - Caribbean teens facing alarming rise in adult-onset health conditions (Published September 14, 2025)

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Sagicor: Hosted by Dr. Kenneth Connell, President of the HCC and Deputy Dean of Recruitment and Outreach at the UWI Faculty of Medicine, The Wellness Effect is a video podcast series designed to educate our communities about the dangers of NCDs. It will show the impact on not just their physical but their financial wellbeing. The series is a partnership between Sagicor, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition and the UWI Faculty of Medicine.

CARPHA Executive Director's Caribbean Wellness Day Statement 2025

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CARPHA: September 13th, 2025 marked the 17th iteration of Caribbean Wellness Day under the theme “Engage, Empower, Elevate: Working together to improve health and well-being for all.” This year, the Caribbean Plate took center stage—not only as a guide for healthier eating but as a symbol of our unique heritage and resilience. My Caribbean Plate is a tool that was specifically tailored to the Caribbean context, one that considers our culture and incorporates the foods or food groups found in our Region.

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARHPA), EarthMedic and EarthNurse Foundation for Planetary Health, and the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN) adapted and updated a series of brochures originally developed by Dr. Saria Hassan (ECHORN with funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute). 

This series of eight brochures was developed to support people in the English-speaking Caribbean who are living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension, mental health conditions, and cancer, in preparing for and managing their health during natural disasters. 

Emergencies often disrupt access to care, medications, medical devices, and follow-up services - factors that can significantly increase the risk of complications and hospitalization for people with NCDs. Each brochure provides condition-specific guidance, including practical steps such as assembling medication and equipment kits, keeping treatment plans and medical records accessible, planning for safe evacuation and shelter, and safeguarding emotional wellbeing. They also feature user-friendly checklists and local resource contacts to help patients, families, and caregivers take action. The eighth brochure focuses on civil society organizations, offering tools to plan for continuity of services, manage supply chains, prioritize vulnerable clients, and coordinate effectively with health authorities. Together, this series strengthens resilience, helps reduce preventable illness and death, and supports faster community recovery. The ultimate goal is to equip people living with NCDs - as well as healthcare workers, civil society and faith-based organizations, volunteers, and other stakeholders - to be better prepared and able to manage NCDs effectively during disasters.

Members of the Healthy Caribbean Youth

PAHO: Suicide Prevention: A Conversation with Caribbean Youth was hosted at the PAHO Barbados Office ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th, to provide a forum for the youth which prioritized listening, building hope, and mobilizing action to prevent suicide. The forum was organized by Let’s Unpack It and Healthy Caribbean Youth, with the support of The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO), and the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Related media:

Let's Unpack It: If Something Feels Off, Flag It: Highlights from Suicide Prevention: A Conversation with Caribbean Youth

Global Mental Health Action Network: #MHForAll Webinar: State of the World’s Mental Health Today

PAHO: Let's Talk About Health – Ep. 12: Suicide: Breaking the silence

Nation News: Mental Health Issues Worse Since COVID

Global Week for Action on NCDs 2022 – Invest to Protect

The NCD Alliance led Global Week for Action on NCDs took place during the week 5-11 September 2022 under the theme Invest to Protect. 

The annual Global Week for Action on NCDs seeks to ensure NCD prevention and management get the attention and action they deserve, everywhere, for everyone.