National Nutrition Centre’s Message For World Health Day 2025

World Health Day 2025: “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” – Bringing Attention to Maternal and New-born Health Through Lifecycle Nutrition Initiatives

This April 7th, as we unite with the global community to celebrate World Health Day, we shine a spotlight on the vital theme of lifecycle nutrition through “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” and a focus on Accelerating reduction of Maternal and Newborn Mortality in the Americas Region by ramping up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and to prioritise women’s longer-term health and well-being. This initiative also addresses the pressing challenges of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease that affect both children and adults worldwide.

The health of mothers and babies is the foundation of healthy families and communities, helping ensure hopeful futures for us all. Women and families everywhere need high quality care that supports them physically and emotionally, before, during and after birth. Health systems must therefore be able to manage the many health issues that impact maternal and newborn health, which not only include direct obstetric complications but also mental health conditions, NCDs and family planning.

At the heart of this theme lies the critical importance of nutrition during life’s earliest stages: Exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding and establishing sound nutrition and physical activity. Habits during childhood create the foundation for lifelong health.

Research demonstrates the powerful influence of family patterns, with children of obese parents facing significantly higher risks of developing obesity themselves—a 50 per cent increased risk with one obese parent, and an 80 per cent increased risk when both parents are obese.

This striking correlation reveals how eating habits and physical activity patterns are socially inherited within families. Initiatives focusing on the first 1,000 days of life are therefore essential for ensuring long-term health and well-being as children transition to adulthood.

The increasing prevalence of obesity and NCDs presents not only a significant public health challenge but also threatens national development. Nutritious diets and adequate physical activity serve as key catalysts for improved health outcomes throughout life.

Interventions such as the Barbados School Nutrition Policy (BSNP), play a crucial role in this effort. The BSNP provides a comprehensive framework to improve school food environments and promote physically active educational settings. By cultivating healthy eating habits during formative years, we nurture a generation less vulnerable to NCDs. This policy represents one element of a broader shift away from placing health responsibility solely on individuals, instead focusing on modifying the wider food environment in Barbados.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has implemented several progressive measures, including legislation to prohibit trans fatty acids and partially hydrogenated oils in the food supply, along with establishing a ban on sugar-sweetened beverages in schools. These interventions collectively aim to create an environment where healthy choices become the easiest choices for all Barbadians, ensuring nutritious options are both accessible and affordable.

World Health Day offers a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about optimal nutrition practices throughout all stages of life. The Ministry of Health and Wellness and National Nutrition Centre encourage all Barbadians to prioritise good nutrition and regular physical activity in their daily lives. We remain committed to working alongside our civil society partners and other ministries to equip citizens with the skills needed to make healthier food choices.

For more information on World Health Day activities and participation opportunities, please contact the Ministry of Health and Wellness or the National Nutrition Centre.

National Nutrition Centre

Author: Government of Barbados

Publish: April 07, 2025