The Ministry of Health and Wellness and its partners are working to create healthier school food environments for students across the country.

In this vein, the ‘Hope for the Future 2.0’ Youth Forum was held, which gave young people a platform to join the discussion with policymakers about the types of foods they put into their bodies.

The forum held on Thursday, July 24, 2025 attracted scores of young people who assembled in the New Providence Ballroom at Baha Mar Resort on Cable Beach.

The event brought young people, health advocates and policymakers together to shape healthier school environments across The Bahamas.

Participating in the forum were: Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister of Education and Technical & Vocational Training, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin; PAHO/WHO representative for The Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos Islands, Dr. Eldonna Boisson; Director of Public Health Dr. Phillip Swann; and Youth Ambassadors.

It marked the second iteration of ‘Hope for the Future,’ a regional initiative that continues to unfold across the Caribbean and the Americas. The initiative, started by the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, seeks to empower youth and civil society organizations to lead the call for healthier school food environments and comprehensive school nutrition policies.  It also aims to foster direct engagement between young people and policymakers, with a view to strengthening the development and implementation of policies at the national level for regional impact.

Dr. Darville said: “As the Minister of Health and Wellness I am thrilled to see so many young people here who care about their health, the health of their schools and communities.  As policymakers, we know that we cannot have discussions about our country’s future without including the voices, views and ideas of our young people because you are the ones who will guide the future of this nation and the global society.”

He cited recent data which shows that over 71 percent of Bahamian adolescents eat foods high in fat, salt, and added sugar every week. Only 5.7 percent of teens eat the recommended daily servings of fruit, 10 percent are eating enough servings of vegetables, more than 80 percent of teens drink sodas or sugary drinks regularly, and fewer than 1 in 5 are drinking enough water each day.

“The reality is many Bahamian teens are not getting the nutrition they need.  Unhealthy diets are linked to higher rates of childhood obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and hypertension – diseases that we know are preventable,” noted Dr Darville.

In this vein, the Ministry and its partners are working to create healthier school food environments.  One example of this action is the upcoming School Water Access Project (SWAP) slated to start in August 2025.

The pilot project calls for the installation of contactless water fountains in six public schools, ensuring students have free and safe access to drinking water.

“Our goal is to expand this initiative across public schools nationwide,” said Dr. Darville.

Additionally, the recently tabled Health Promotion and Wellness Bill, 2025 is designed to promote healthy lifestyles, strengthen national nutrition policies, and establish a National Food and Nutrition Commission to guide efforts to improve nutrition and health across the islands.

“We want you to be exposed to new, healthy foods, understand food labels and have access to the services that support physical, mental and spiritual health,” Dr. Darville told the young people.

The Minister of Education and Technical & Vocational Training the Hon Glenys Hanna-Martin echoed sentiments expressed by Dr. Darville, while encouraging young people to make better, healthier food choices.

Director of Public Health, Dr. Philip Swann, also noted that the recent Global School Health Survey report indicates that young people are not consuming the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables — which are necessary to support optimal cognitive development, academic performance, and long-term health. “These statistics are not merely numbers, they are a call to action,” he said.

And, Dr. Boisson also underscored the importance of healthy heating among young people.

“Healthy school food environments are essential. They ensure that students not only learn about healthy eating, but also live it. When nutritious meals and snacks are available, affordable, and appealing in and around schools, they promote lifelong habits that support well-being, academic performance, and physical health,” said the PAHO representative.

By Lindsay Thompson/Bahamas Information Services

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