Bridgetown, Barbados, 11 August 2025. The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) has again partnered with the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), which is hosting its 56^th Annual General Assembly (AGA) and 36^th Caribbean Media Awards (CMAs) in Bridgetown, Barbados from August 18 – 20, 2025. The HCC, with the support of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), is the sponsor of two (2) Themed categories Print and Television under the theme Healthy Nutrition Food Policy. This marks the third consecutive year of the sponsored Print Themed category and second consecutive year of the sponsored Television Themed category for the HCC.

The HCC successfully hosted its first virtual sensitisation on the topic in November 2024 and provided bursaries to support further content development, to the winners of the special categories in 2024 (2023 CBU CMAs). Ms. Donna Sealy, of the Nation Publishing Company, a first-time nominee and winner of the Print category of the 35^th CMAs, held in Belize last August, went on to produce a series of five (5) articles which delved into the role of nutrition policies, implementation barriers and showcased positive outputs of healthy nutrition policies implemented in Barbados, when compared to the rest of the world. The team at the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), winners of the Television category last year, produced a Testimonial series, to allow average Barbadians to hear from Barbadians who live with some of the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiac diseases, and how preventative measures including nutrition policies could circumvent NCD development as well as in the 

management of and control of NCDs. These well-tailored outputs were amplified across the region. 

This year, the HCC will also support the travel and accommodation for one of the delegates attending the CBU AGA and CMAs. HCCs Executive Director Mrs. Maisha Hutton expressed her delight, “the HCC, through this partnership has strengthened its relationship with the CBU and the region’s media and encouraged strong, well-informed, and evidence-based health-focused products across the Caribbean”. Mrs. Sheena Warner-Edwards, HCCs Communications Officer noted, “the ongoing engagement with the media over the years and the number of overall and category submissions, are testament to the value of engaging with and recognising the media as an invaluable vehicle to support policy and programme calls with respect to non-communicable diseases and to reduce misinformation and disinformation. The volume of quality submissions continues to grow, with some highlights of further areas for ongoing work and partnership with the CBU”. 

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) was informally established in 2008, arising out of the 2007 Declaration of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The HCC was then officially registered as a not-for-profit organisation in 2012. The HCC is the only Caribbean NCD alliance of over 80 health and non-health civil society organisations (CSOs). In the Caribbean, the five major NCDs – cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and mental health diseases – and the five common risk factors – tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and air pollution – are the leading causes of death and illness.

The HCC works closely with regional and international leaders in NCD prevention and control to leverage the power of civil society by strengthening and supporting its membership in the implementation of programmes aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with NCDs. The media has also been a strong partner in communication and advocacy, while maintaining its command on health matters. 

The HCC looks forward to this year’s partnership with the CBU, and especially welcoming all delegates to our home-base Barbados.