Barbados Moves!

The Barbados Moves! Initiative was launched on Saturday October 20, 2018 at the Ellerton Hard court, St George. The launch was hosted by former Minister of Health and Wellness Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic, with support from the Minister Dwight Sutherland, constituency representative for the area and Health Minister Christopher Tuffton out of Jamaica.

Barbados Moves is a part of Caribbean Moves, an initiative conceptualised by all CARICOM Heads of Government in September 2018 to reduce the burden of NCDs. The concept was built on the experience of Jamaica Moves, launched in April 2017. The Jamaica Moves Campaign was a national response to the increase incidences of NCDs and was designed to educate, engage and build supportive environments. Jamaica Moves promoted physical activity, healthy eating and age-appropriate health checks at the level of schools, workplaces and the community. So impactful was this campaign in Jamaica, that the launch of Barbados Moves followed in October 2018. This movement spread through the Caribbean seeing similar movements in the Bahamas, St Lucia, St Vincent, St Kitts and Nevis Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.

Caribbean Moves was officially launched in Jamaica on the 14th of September as the country celebrated Caribbean Wellness Day 2022. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on behalf of CARICOM and with the support of the Caribbean Development Bank Grant Agreement introduced the Caribbean Moves initiative. The campaign provides an opportunity for CARICOM Member States to implement a multisector approach to the prevention and control of NCDs and their risk factors through a strategic health promotion initiative. Members of the CARPHA Regional Health Communicators Network lend support to each other through the sharing of campaign information and materials.

Since the Launch of Barbados Moves, the National Task Force on Wellness, has been working with the Health Promotion Unit to host, promote and endorse various activities across the island.

The National Task Force on Wellness promotes the wellness concept of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The aim of the Wellness initiative which promotes eight dimensions of wellness, is to engage the entire population holistically, in behaviours designed to reduce the risk of NCDs.  The Task Force uses the promotion of the dimensions of Wellness to help Barbadians become more aware of themselves, their environment and resources which are available for them to holistically make choices toward healthy and fulfilling lives.

Community outreach plays a major role in the activities of the Task Force as the ‘Barbados Moves’ Concept is used to promote physical activity, healthy eating and healthy screening. Monthly activities are facilitated throughout the island including Wellness hikes, walks, health fairs, healthy cooking demonstrations, mental health lectures and other social events. The Task Force also uses its social media presence through the Barbados Moves face book and Instagram pages to reach out to the public.

Barbados Moves activities hosted by the Ministry of Health and wellness and the National Task Force on wellness are all free of charge to the public, so as to increase access to the public.