HCC/HCY joins the WHO Youth Council for another term! The WHO Youth Council convened its 2026–2028 membership for the first time, bringing together focal points from 25 youth-led and youth-serving organisations in Berlin on 9–10 October 2026, ahead of the just completed World Health Summit. The new term welcomes 11 organisations joining the Council for the first time and 14 returning member organisations. Together, they represent young people working across medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, mental health, HIV, nutrition, climate, health diplomacy, foreign policy and more. The meeting opened with welcome remarks from Dr Gaudenz Silberschmidt, Director, Partnerships and Financing at WHO, the Council's leadership, F/A/Q Health and the Bertelsmann Stiftung. A roundtable on elevating youth leadership in global health governance linked the three areas of the Council's Youth Declaration on Creating Healthy Societies to the redesign of the global health architecture, followed by an overview of the Council's role in the Global Health Architecture consultation process. Members reviewed the achievements, challenges and lessons of the 2024–2026 term and were introduced to the Council's terms of reference, ways of working, Steering Committee, working groups and key projects. A fireside chat explored WHO's mandate on youth leadership, governance and inclusion across the Organisation. View the full PR at: who.int/news/item/09-10-2026… The organisation is currently represented by Danielle Walwyn and Jenée Farrell. @WHOYouthCouncil Healthy Caribbean Youth World Health Organization Pan Am Health Organization #hcy #healthycaribbean – at Barbados

In the Caribbean, the conversation about youth participation carries unique historical weight. For centuries, external colonial powers controlled nearly all decisions affecting Caribbean societies, establishing a long-standing hierarchy that centered external knowledge, dismissed local voices, and framed Caribbean communities as followers rather than decision-makers. While formal independence restructured political authority across the region, it did not automatically erase the deep-seated norms that exclude marginalized groups — including young people and people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — from health governance. Decades after independence, questions about whose input counts, whose expertise is legitimized, and who gets to shape health policy remain central to advancing equitable health outcomes across CARICOM nations. HCC Advocacy Officer Jenee Farrell has authored a valuable document which all need to engage with. Thank you to those media houses which have shared this Op-Ed, helping us to reach everyone across the #Caribbean . @stluciatimes @stvincent_times @dominicanewsonline @antiguanews @kaieteurnews @thepeoplestribunesxm @caribscopenews #YouthEngagement #healthycaribbean – at Barbados

HCC at the World Cancer Congress 2026 HCC Executive Director, Maisha Hutton attended the 2026 World Cancer Congress in Hong Kong where she participated in a panel session co-hosted by the World Cancer Research Fund International and the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer. The session entitled: Labelling Unhealthy Products for Cancer Prevention: Turning Evidence Into Action explored the value of labelling unhealthy products as a highly visible, evidence-based policy tool to raise awareness, shift social norms and catalyse cancer prevention action globally. HCC presented Lessons learned from attempting to introduce a regional front of pack nutrition label in the CARICOM region. The session also served as an opportunity for WCRF to launch their most recent Policy Brief - Cancer warning labels on alcohol: Mandating what’s missing. Panelists included: Sheila Gilheany, Alcohol Action Ireland (Ireland), Mary Grace Anne Rosales-Sto. Domingo, McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer (Australia), Pubudu Sumanasekara, MOVENDI International (Sri Lanka). – at Barbados

HCC Partners with Amagi Health for Caribbean Brain Health Summit amagisummit.org/about The Caribbean Brain Health Summit runs from 16 to 22 November 2026, in several Caribbean countries and online. Brain health touches every family in the Caribbean, through dementia, stroke, mental health and healthy ageing. The Summit brings communities, practitioners, researchers and policymakers together to share what works and agree what comes next. #brainhealth #caribbeanbrainhealthsummit – at Barbados

Decisions about young people's health and futures should not be made without them! 🗣️🌎 Young people bring fresh perspectives, lived experiences and innovative ideas that are essential to shaping more inclusive, relevant and effective health policies and programmes. But having youth voices in the room is only the beginning. We must also create spaces where their perspectives are valued, their contributions can influence decisions, and meaningful intergenerational collaboration can thrive. 🎥 Hear from Zhané, Grace and Shelley on why youth voices must be prioritised in health decision-making and what meaningful youth engagement should look like in practice. 📖 Explore our Guidance Note on Meaningful Youth Engagement through the link in our bio on Instagram. @CARICOMorg @commonwealthsec @ComSecYouth @hsfbarbados Special thanks to @chillvibez246 and @jardep for bringing this vision to life! #CaribbeanYouthForHealth #MeaningfulYouthEngagement #YouthVoices #YouthLeadership – at Barbados

Meaningful youth engagement must include young people living with NCDs. Their lived experiences bring invaluable perspectives on the realities of living with and managing NCDs — perspectives that should help shape the policies, programmes and services intended to support them. Part of engagement is leading with care and empathy - hear from Shelley and Zhané on their suggestions for engaging young people living with NCDs. Check out the Guidance Note on Meaningful Engagement in our bio for more on how we can meaningfully engage youth! @healthycaribbeanyouth @ComSecYouth @commonwealthsec @SaintLuciaGov Thank you to @chillvibez246 for bringing this vision to life. #Caribbeanyouthforhealth – at Barbados

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) is a Caribbean alliance of civil society organisations whose mission is to harness the power of civil society - in collaboration with key national, regional and global partners - to galvanise bold action for NCD prevention and care in the Caribbean, leaving no one behind. Why Join the HCC? Join a committed, collaborative, mission-driven team. Make a meaningful contribution to improving health across the Caribbean. Work with leading regional and international partners. Enjoy flexible, remote working arrangements. Grow professionally while supporting meaningful national and regional impact. HCC Membership Engagement Strategy Development Consultant Short-Term Consultant | 12-Day Consultancy HCC is seeking a Membership Engagement Strategy Development Consultant to develop a practical and forward-looking Membership Engagement Strategy to strengthen, formalise and systematise engagement with its diverse membership. Building on the Membership Engagement Mapping Report (Phase 1) and aligned with the HCC 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, the consultancy will define clear engagement priorities, pathways and mechanisms and develop practical tools to support implementation and monitoring. HCC Strategic Plan Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework Consultant Short-Term Consultant | 12-Day Consultancy HCC is seeking an experienced Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Consultant to develop a practical MEL Framework to support implementation of the HCC Strategic Plan 2025-2030. The Framework will support HCC to track organisational progress and results, situate its projects and programmes within the broader strategic framework, and strengthen learning, accountability and decision-making for the remainder of the strategic period. HCC TFA Project Coordinator Long-Term Part-time Consultant (10-Month Contract) | 75% Full-Time-Equivalent (FTE) HCC is seeking an experienced Project Coordinator to support Phase III of its regional initiative to accelerate implementation of the 2022 CARICOM commitment to eliminate industrially produced trans fats (iTFA) from the Caribbean food supply. The project will advance evidence-informed advocacy, regional accountability, civil society action and stakeholder engagement. The deadline for submission of applications is 23 October 2026.

Our experiences matter. Our stories matter. Meaningful youth engagement creates opportunities for young people to openly share their experiences, perspectives and ideas — and know that what they share is valued. When we create spaces to listen and learn from young people, their lived experiences can help shape more responsive policies, programmes and solutions. Listen to Jennifer’s take on why young people need to be involved, especially in discussions related to NCD prevention and control Check out the Guidance Note on Meaningful Engagement in our bio for more on how we can meaningfully engage youth! @cyabarbados @commonwealthsec @CARICOMorg Thank you to @chillvibez246 for bringing this vision to life. #Caribbeanyouthforhealth – at Barbados

Listening is only the beginning. Meaningful youth engagement means ensuring young people have genuine opportunities to contribute — and that their ideas and perspectives can influence what happens next. Hear from Husna on the value of youth in the room to support decision-making. She speaks about the challenges experienced when youth are invited to speak rather than influence action. Check out the Guidance Note on Meaningful Engagement in our bio on Instagram for more on how we can meaningfully engage youth! @commonwealthsec @thest.michaelschool @hsfbarbados Thank you to @chillvibez246 for bringing this vision to life. #Caribbeanyouthforhealth – at Barbados

@healthycaribbeanyouth Latifah, Chelsea and Danielle will join the Morning Show with Sharon to discuss how youth can be meaningfully engaged in decision-making spaces. 📻 Listen LIVE at 8:30am on Antigua Observer Radio or at the link facebook.com/share/v/1C4xKs5… #healthycaribbean #healthpolicy – at Barbados

Young people deserve more than a seat at the table. Meaningful youth engagement means creating space for young people to contribute, influence decisions and help shape the policies and programmes that affect their lives. It also encourages co-creation. Hear directly from Damanie on why he thinks his voice and those living with NCDs should be considered in health decision making including informing the Barbados School Nutrition Policy. He also speaks about the potential opportunity for intergenerational collaboration within the Healthcare System. Check out the Guidance Note on Meaningful Engagement in our bio for more on how we can meaningfully engage youth! Thank you to @chillvibez246 for bringing this vision to life. #Caribbeanyouthforhealth @hsfbarbados @commonwealthsec – at Barbados

Spotlight on #TrinidadandTobago Healthy Caribbean Youth (HCY) Rozette and Charissa highlight the plight young people have, as a result of the bombarding marketing tactics including ultra-processed foods and beverages which are highly visible across several countries including Trinidad and Tobago. With the new public health measures coming into play we need to also look closer at protecting youth from marketing. Read more at healthycaribbean.org and at the @NationBarbados #healthyfoodpolicy #healthycaribbean – at Barbados

Young people are ready to speak, shape and lead. 🌎✨ Creating healthier Caribbean futures means creating space for young people to help shape the decisions that affect them. Hear from Kazaria on the spaces that need to be opened for youth to be engaged and influence change. Check out the Guidance Note on Meaningful Engagement in our bio and at the link below for more on how we can meaningfully engage youth! Guidance-on-Meaningful-Engagement-of-Youth-Including-Young-People-Living-with-Non-Communicable-Diseases-in-NCD-Related-Health-Decision-Making-Across-CARICOM-HCC-July-2026-1.pdf @commonwealthsec #healthycaribbeanyouth Thank you to @chillvibez246 for bringing this vision to life. #Caribbeanyouthforhealth – at Barbados

In recognition of World Heart Day, 29 September 2026, the #Barbados National Registry (BNR) is sharing important data on heart attacks recorded in Barbados in 2023. 🔑 Key findings from BNR data, including the number of hospital-recorded heart attacks, the proportion occurring in women, and the significant number affecting Barbadians before age 70 are shown. How do we prevent heart attacks? Share in the comments 📲. #HeartHealth #worldheartday #healthycaribbean – at Barbados

We were more than honoured to take part in the book launch of Caribbean Network Diplomacy: Addressing Global Challenges through Regional Collaboration, a book by, Dr. Candia James, on September 10th, 2026. HCCs Communication Officer Sheena Warner-Edwards delivered remarks virtually. Even though we could not attend in person at the Institute of International Relations (IIR), The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, it was pleasing we could share virtual remarks. Our reflections on the book shared the HCCs perspective on regional cooperation, partnerships and networks, and their relevance to the work of regional institutions. 📚 Grab your copy today! Congratulations 🎊 all around for Dr. James.   #booklaunch #healthycaribbean – at Barbados

#FBF to The Mornin Show on #ObserverRadio #AntiguaandBarbuda Ms. Janet Simon #janetsimon representing Healthy Caribbean Youth @healthycaribbeanyouth and Mrs. Sheena Warner-Edwards, @HealthCaribbean Communications Officer discussing Marketing of Unhealthy Foods in and around schools recognising the school policies which have already been put in place across the #Caribbean as part of the efforts to reduce overweight and obesity in children. Also in discussion: 📻 physical activity levels of school-aged children 📻 over-consumption of key nutrients #healthycaribbean – at Barbados