The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) announced that it joins the regional community in observing Caribbean Wellness Day (CWD), an annual event held on the second Saturday of September.
CARPHA, via press release, shared that this day aims to raise awareness and encourage participation in activities targeting Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which continue to be a primary cause of mortality and productivity loss across the Caribbean.
CWD offers a vital platform for governments, communities, and individuals to unite in a shared effort to promote healthier lifestyles and mitigate the impact of NCDs.
The 2025 edition of Caribbean Wellness Day is scheduled for September 13, and it inaugurates a renewed vision under the overarching theme for the period 2025-2029: “Engage, Empower, Elevate.” This slogan underscores the significance of active community involvement, youth participation, and advocacy-driven empowerment.
According to CARPHA, the campaign this year emphasizes fostering healthier dietary habits through the ‘My Caribbean Plate’ initiative—a culturally rooted model encouraging nutritious eating. Additionally, the campaign advocates for increased physical activity as a means to prevent and control conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and hypertension.
Central to this year’s celebrations is the ‘My Caribbean Plate,’ which aligns with the theme “Working together to improve health and well-being for all.” The initiative seeks to elevate awareness of the nutritional, environmental, and cultural importance of locally sourced foods by highlighting traditional preparation techniques and sustainable agricultural practices.
This approach aims to reinforce regional pride and promote a healthier, more sustainable way of living.
Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director of CARPHA, emphasized the importance of Caribbean Wellness Day, stating,“ Caribbean Wellness Day stands as a testament to our collective resolve, as mandated by the Heads of Government of CARICOM, to address the growing threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The reality is grave: NCDs like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancers—remain the leading causes of death and disability in our Region. Every Caribbean family is touched. The cost of inaction is measured not only in dollars but in lives lost and dreams unrealised. The day serves not only as a reminder of the commitments made in the Port of Spain Declaration but also as a call to action for governments, communities, and individuals to intensify efforts throughout the year”.
Further highlighting the importance of community involvement, Dr. Heather Armstrong, Head of the Chronic Diseases and Injury Unit at CARPHA, remarked, “Improving health and well-being requires all of us, individuals, families, schools, workplaces, and policymakers to work together. Caribbean Wellness Day 2025 is not only a call to action, but also a celebration of Caribbean identity, resilience, and shared responsibility for health. By engaging communities, empowering individuals, and elevating regional responses to wellness, the initiative seeks to create environments that make the healthier choice the easier choice for every Caribbean citizen”.
As non-communicable diseases continue to pose a significant challenge across the Caribbean, CARPHA stated that Caribbean Wellness Day 2025 serves as a powerful reminder that collective efforts are essential to building healthier nations and securing a better future for all. The observance underscores the importance of sustained commitment throughout the year to reduce the NCD burden. Through the motto ‘Engage, Empower, Elevate,’ the initiative aims to inspire meaningful, lasting change—encouraging choices at the table that promote individual and environmental well-being for generations to come.
Caribbean Wellness Day was first conceived and endorsed by the Heads of Government of CARICOM in 2007 as a strategic regional response to the rising threat of NCDs.
To learn more about ‘My Caribbean Plate’ and other initiatives by CARPHA, individuals are encouraged to follow the agency on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram or visit their official website at https://carpha.org/More/Health-Days/CWD/CWD-2025.
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