THE Caribbean Community will commemorate Caribbean Wellness Day 2023 with a call to action for all sectors in society to focus on ‘The Care We Need: At work, at school, at home’ to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region.

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in partnership with the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), is calling on all stakeholders to support policies, programmes and practices that enable Caribbean people to engage in health promoting behaviours in these three key environments.

Caribbean Wellness Day was established in 2007 as a part of a regional strategy to decrease the burden of NCDs on the lives and livelihood of Caribbean people. Environments that support behaviours such as physical activity, healthy eating, age-appropriate health screening and stress management have been proven to reduce the risk and improve the management of NCDs. This year’s campaign encourages leaders in all aspects of life to facilitate the adoption of these healthy behaviours in the spaces where individuals spend most of their time by making the healthy choices the easy choices.

Research has shown that multi-strategic approaches that engage all of society are more likely to be effective in combating NCDs. Therefore, strategies should include policies or programmes at the institutional, national and regional level (via Caricom); alongside direct empowerment of Caribbean citizens with tools to combat personal challenges.

It is noteworthy that a significant percentage of the Caribbean population spend a large portion of their time at work and school. In contemplating this, Dr Joy St John, executive director at CARPHA, noted, “Consequently, initiatives within workplaces and educational institutions hold the potential to have a profound impact on the health of the population. We must therefore seize the opportunity to support healthier lifestyles within these spheres.”

The household plays a pivotal role in shaping the behaviours of Caribbean citizens. Dr Heather Armstrong, head of the chronic disease and injury (CDI) department at CARPHA, noted, “While national policies wield considerable influence over household choices, education can also empower individuals to make informed choices and create personal and household plans that facilitate healthy lifestyles.”

The fight against NCDs in the Caribbean requires the coordinated efforts of every level of society if it is to be successful. This year’s celebration comes with a challenge to every individual to build the courage to show they care and to examine the spaces in which they have the power to influence others to live a healthier lifestyle. We encourage you to use that power to build a healthier Caribbean, one household, one institution, one nation at a time.