SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – Caribbean Wellness Day (CWD) will be observed across the region on Saturday, September 12, reminding Caribbean communities to take action and maintain healthy lifestyles under the theme “Our Mind. Our Body. Our Wellness. Empowering Caribbean Youth.”
CWD 2026 focus is on young people, their physical and mental well-being, and creating environments that allow Caribbean youth to make healthier choices.
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) 2026 message emphasizes that the future health of the Caribbean is strongly influenced by the choices, opportunities and environments being created for young people today.
The agency is therefore calling on Member States to put youth wellness at the centre of efforts to create healthier individuals, communities and societies.
CWD is also about promoting collectively good health and well-being of the whole of society, the Collective Prevention Service (CPS), a department within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (Ministry VSA) said.
The burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the Caribbean has reached epidemic proportions, representing one of the most significant public health and economic challenges facing the region.
With NCDs like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes accounting for over 75% of all deaths, the region has one of the highest rates of premature mortality from these conditions in the world.
This crisis is fueled by a number of behavioral risk factors, including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Sint Maarten parents and guardians need to look at issues such as healthy eating, physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, mental health and stress, adequate sleep, reducing excessive screen and sedentary time, avoiding tobacco/vaping and harmful alcohol use, developing positive relationships, and encouraging young people to obtain appropriate preventive healthcare.
NCDs are prevalent in Sint Maarten, and CPS uses its annual Health Observance Calendar (HOC) which highlights Caribbean Wellness Day, as well as raising awareness about NCDs that impacts the community such as hypertension, diabetes, prostate and breast cancer.
This CWD youth approach is particularly relevant because many NCD risk factors develop during childhood and adolescence and can continue into adulthood. Caribbean Wellness Day therefore provides an opportunity to move the conversation from treating chronic illness later in life toward establishing healthy behaviors earlier in life.
CPS for CWD 2026 is calling on young people, parents, schools, sports organizations, youth organizations and the wider community to collectively promote healthier lifestyles.
It would also fit well with the start of the 2026–2027 school year, where a healthier lifestyle allows for wellness with school performance, healthy meals, physical activity, emotional well-being and healthy decision-making.
CPS encourages members of the community to consult with their family physician or other health related organizations to learn more about healthy lifestyles and take action to improve their overall wellness.
CPS also encourages residents to participate and get involved in promoting health and wellness in their neighborhoods. Influencing positive lifestyle changes is by working together to better community and individual health.
The CARICOM Heads of Summit on Chronic Diseases in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, September 2007, established Caribbean Wellness Day.
Caribbean Wellness Day is observed every year on the second Saturday of September.
