AGP Executive Report

Tobacco Control: WHO’s latest global report says five billion people live in countries with strong tobacco controls, but help for people trying to quit remains inadequate. Climate and Care: Barbados Health Minister Lisa Cummins warned that extreme weather can disrupt dialysis, pregnancy care, medicine supplies and healthcare workers’ access to work, calling for better coordination to protect services. Prevention: Barbados’ childhood obesity rate has reached 42%, according to the education minister, while the Ministry of Health is preparing a national screening campaign for non-communicable diseases. Sexual Health: An Alleyne School student has launched “Think, Know Decide,” an initiative to help young people understand the risks and consequences of early sexual activity.

Climate and Care: Health Minister Lisa Cummins warned that extreme weather can disrupt dialysis, medicine supplies and maternity care, calling for stronger plans to protect essential services. Youth Health: An Alleyne School student has launched “Think, Know Decide,” a week of activities and discussions to raise awareness of sexual health and the risks of early sexual activity. Chronic Disease: Childhood obesity in Barbados has risen to 42%, the education minister warned, as the Health Ministry prepares a national screening campaign for non-communicable diseases. Breast cancer also remains a major public health concern.

NCD Prevention: Barbados is preparing a national screening campaign as officials warn that childhood obesity has reached 42%. New school nutrition awards are also intended to encourage healthier food choices. Breast Cancer: A Barbados Cancer Society lecture stressed the importance of early screening, noting projections that one in seven women could develop the disease. Youth Health: An Alleyne School student has launched “Think, Know, Decide,” a week of activities and discussions on sexual health and the risks of early sexual activity. Healthcare Access: China’s embassy says its medical team is helping fill gaps at local facilities, particularly Queen Elizabeth Hospital; a Chinese hospital ship treated more than 2,000 Barbadians during a three-day visit last December. Cuba’s Health Strain: Cuba’s ambassador says blackouts averaging more than 20 hours are disrupting healthcare, water and food supplies.

Child Health: Childhood obesity has reached 42%, the Education Minister warned, as Barbados launches school nutrition awards and plans a national screening campaign for non-communicable diseases. Cancer Care: Breast cancer remains a major public health concern, with one in seven women projected to develop the disease; a local specialist stressed the importance of early screening. Sexual Health: An Alleyne School student has started a week of activities and discussions to help peers understand the risks and consequences of early sexual activity. Healthcare Support: China’s medical team is helping address gaps at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, while a visiting Chinese hospital ship treated more than 2,000 Barbadians during a three-day visit last December.

Injuries: Six people were taken for treatment after a collision involving a public service vehicle and a van on Crumpton Street. School Safety: The Barbados Union of Teachers is seeking talks about temporarily relocating pupils and staff from a school facing longstanding problems while repairs are done. Youth Health: An Alleyne School student has launched a week of activities and discussions to raise awareness about sexual health and the risks of early sexual activity. Prevention: Barbados plans a national screening campaign for non-communicable diseases as concern grows over childhood obesity, now reported at 42%; new school nutrition awards are also being introduced. Cancer Care: A public health lecture highlighted breast cancer as a major concern, with projections suggesting one in seven women could develop the disease, and stressed the importance of early screening. Medicines Regulation: Barbados is developing rules for its Medical Products Authority, covering oversight of medicines and health technologies, safety monitoring and clinical trials. Workplace Wellness: Teachers’ leaders have raised concerns about stress and health among educators, and plan to discuss teacher wellness with government.

Child Health: Barbados’ childhood overweight and obesity rate has risen to 42 per cent, up from 31 per cent in 2017. The Government plans to begin a national NCD screening campaign in schools, while new awards promote healthier school nutrition. Cancer Care: A public health lecture warned that breast cancer remains a major concern, with projections suggesting one in seven women could develop it; specialists stressed the importance of early screening. Medicine Regulation: Barbados is consulting on rules for its planned Medical Products Authority, covering medicine approvals, safety monitoring, licensing and clinical trials. Healthcare Support: China’s embassy says its medical team is helping fill gaps at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital; a Chinese hospital ship treated more than 2,000 Barbadians during a three-day visit last December.

Breast Cancer: Barbados Cancer Society’s Breast Screening Programme warns that one in seven women could develop breast cancer. Radiologist Dr Fidel Rampersad stressed the importance of early screening. Medicine Regulation: Barbados is developing regulations for the Barbados Medical Products Authority, covering medicine approvals, safety monitoring, licensed facilities and clinical trials. Children’s Health: Childhood obesity has risen to 42 per cent, from 31 per cent in 2017. New school nutrition awards aim to encourage healthier habits, while officials warn that marketing of ultra-processed foods can undermine the effort. Prevention: Cabinet has approved a national non-communicable disease screening campaign, starting in schools to help children understand their health risks and support early intervention. Care and Wellness: The Chinese medical team is helping address gaps at Queen Elizabeth Hospital; a visiting Chinese hospital ship treated more than 2,000 Barbadians during a three-day visit. Teachers’ union leaders also raised concerns about workplace stress and staff wellness.

Child Health: Barbados is confronting a sharp rise in childhood obesity: 42 per cent of children were overweight or obese in 2026, up from 31 per cent in 2017. New school nutrition awards aim to encourage healthier environments, while the Government plans to begin an NCD screening campaign in schools. Cancer Prevention: A Barbados Cancer Society lecture highlighted breast cancer as a major public health concern, with projections that one in seven women could develop the disease; early screening was urged. Medicine Regulation: Barbados is advancing rules for its Medical Products Authority, covering medicine approvals, clinical trials, safety monitoring and oversight of health-product suppliers. Hospital Care: China’s chargé d’affaires says the Chinese medical team is helping address gaps at Queen Elizabeth Hospital; a visiting Chinese hospital ship treated more than 2,000 Barbadians over three days last December.

Child Health: Barbados is stepping up school-based health efforts as childhood overweight and obesity rises to 42 per cent, from 31 per cent in 2017. New nutrition policy awards aim to encourage healthier school environments, while a Cabinet-approved NCD screening campaign will begin in schools. Medicines Regulation: A stakeholder consultation has advanced rules for the Barbados Medical Products Authority, covering product approvals, clinical trials, safety monitoring and oversight of health facilities. Cancer Prevention: A Barbados Cancer Society lecture highlighted breast cancer as a major public health concern, with projections suggesting one in seven women could develop it, and stressed the importance of early screening. Healthcare Support: China’s embassy says its medical team is helping address gaps at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital; a Chinese hospital ship treated more than 2,000 Barbadians during a visit last December.

Childhood Health: Barbados plans a national screening campaign for non-communicable diseases, starting in schools, as officials warn that 42 per cent of children are overweight or obese — up from 31 per cent in 2017. New School Nutrition Policy Recognition Awards aim to encourage healthier school environments. Medicine Oversight: A stakeholder consultation has advanced regulations for the Barbados Medical Products Authority, covering medicine approvals, safety monitoring and clinical trials. Cancer Prevention: A public health lecture highlighted breast cancer as a major concern in Barbados and the Caribbean, with projections that one in seven women could develop the disease; doctors stressed the importance of early screening.

Breast Cancer: A Barbados Cancer Society lecture warned that breast cancer remains a major public-health concern and stressed the importance of early screening. Child Health: Childhood overweight and obesity has climbed to 42%, from 31% in 2017. Government has launched school nutrition awards and plans a national NCD screening campaign, starting in schools, to encourage healthier choices and early intervention. Medicine Safety: Barbados is moving toward finalising regulations for its Medical Products Authority, covering medicine approvals, licensing, safety monitoring and clinical trials, with PAHO support. Healthcare Support: China’s embassy says its medical team is helping fill gaps at Queen Elizabeth Hospital; a visiting naval hospital ship treated more than 2,000 Barbadians over three days.

Breast Cancer: A Barbados Cancer Society lecture highlighted the disease as a major public health concern, with projections suggesting one in seven women could develop it. A radiologist urged early screening. Medicines Regulation: Barbados is moving closer to launching its Medical Products Authority, with a stakeholder consultation reviewing draft rules for medicines, health technologies and clinical trials. Children’s Health: Officials say 42 per cent of Barbadian children are overweight or obese, up from 31 per cent in 2017. Government plans school-based screening for non-communicable diseases, while new awards aim to encourage healthier school food environments. Healthcare and Wellness: China’s embassy says its hospital ship treated more than 2,000 Barbadians during a three-day visit, and a Chinese medical team is helping address gaps at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Meanwhile, the Barbados Union of Teachers is raising concerns about staff stress and wellness.

Child Health: Barbados is launching a national non-communicable disease screening campaign, starting in schools, as new figures show 42% of children are overweight or obese, up from 31% in 2017. New school nutrition awards aim to encourage healthier environments. Teacher Well-being: The Barbados Union of Teachers wants talks on workplace stress and planned pension-age increases, citing the recent deaths of three teachers under 50. The union says it lacks data linking the deaths to stress. Health Workforce: A PAHO survey on healthcare workers’ mental health and working conditions includes Barbados; eligible nurses and doctors can respond until October 30. Regional Health: Barbados will host a Caribbean One Health conference on October 27–28, bringing together experts to discuss public health, climate risks and disaster preparedness.Health Systems: A Suriname delegation visited Barbados to learn about emergency coordination, primary care and laboratory services.

Child Health: Childhood overweight and obesity in Barbados has climbed to 42 per cent, up from 31 per cent in 2017. Government has launched school nutrition awards and plans to start a national screening campaign for non-communicable diseases in schools. Health Workforce: Barbados is among 17 countries in a PAHO study of medical and nursing staff’s mental health and working conditions; the survey closes October 30. Government has also approved the recruitment of 112 Ghanaian nurses amid a shortage. Climate and Health: A regional One Health conference in Barbados on October 27–28 will examine links between public health, climate change, ecosystems and disaster readiness.

Childhood Obesity: The share of Barbadian children who are overweight or obese has climbed from 31% in 2017 to 42% this year. Government has launched school nutrition awards to encourage healthier food environments and help prevent obesity and non-communicable diseases. Support for Young People: Health Minister Lisa Cummins says schools, healthcare providers and social services must work together so children and adolescents facing issues such as anxiety, depression or family pressures do not fall through the cracks. Healthcare Workforce: Barbados plans to recruit 112 more Ghanaian nurses as the island confronts a shortage. A PAHO study, open until October 30, is also inviting nurses and doctors in Barbados to share views on their mental health and working conditions. Health Preparedness: A Suriname health delegation visited Barbados to learn about emergency coordination, primary care and public health laboratory services, with lessons intended to strengthen Suriname’s preparedness. Breastfeeding Support: Mothers praised a local workshop offering guidance on breastfeeding and child nutrition.

Workforce Well-being: Barbados Prison Service is placing greater emphasis on staff wellness, recognising the daily pressures facing officers. Fertility Care: Barbados is among destinations popular with Americans seeking fertility treatment abroad, as more women look overseas for affordable egg freezing and IVF. Health Preparedness: A Suriname health delegation visited Barbados to learn about emergency coordination, primary care and laboratory services, including practices at the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory. Nurses’ Mental Health: PAHO’s regional survey on healthcare workers’ well-being includes Barbados; nurses and doctors providing direct patient care can take part until October 30. Staffing Pressures: Barbados has approved recruiting 112 more Ghanaian nurses, as the region faces shortages. Breastfeeding Support: Mothers praised a breastfeeding workshop hosted by the Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation.