Workplaces Encouraged To Implement Health & Wellness Days

Workplaces in Barbados have been encouraged to implement health and wellness days for the benefit of employees.

The call for implementation was made by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael, yesterday at the Health and Wellness Conference, hosted by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council Barbados, at the Hilton Barbados Resort, Needham’s Point, St. Michael.

The Minister, while sharing that 83% of deaths in the country were as a result of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), added that $375 million upwards to $825 million were spent annually, to deal with NCD related illnesses, and that such figures were not sustainable for a small island developing state.

Mr. Ishmael advised that the time had come to start simple health and wellness initiatives in workplaces. “Everywhere I go, I’ve been encouraging organisations, NGOs, Government, to start a health and wellness programme. It does not have to be anything overly fancy. It can start in a very small way, with a YouTube video on a big screen, in a conference room or a meeting room somewhere, and you can just invite your employees to come and move on a Friday. It can be as simple as that, just a day where you focus on wellness.”

The Minister asserted that Government remained committed to creating policies and environments that champion total wellness, but that Government could not do it alone. He encouraged persons to take up the challenge to pursue healthy lifestyles, and asked that every sector of society play its part in helping  citizens to live well.

The ongoing, three-day TVET Council Barbados’ Health and Wellness Conference aims to develop a competent health and wellness workforce.

Author: Joyanne Kelly

Published: June 18, 2026