Barbados Hosts Inaugural Health and Wellness Conference

An inaugural health and wellness conference opened on Wednesday as the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council Barbados moved to strengthen the island’s workforce to meet the demands of an ageing population and a growing burden of chronic disease.

Held at the Hilton Hotel under the theme “Health, Education, and Promotion: Developing a Workforce that Supports Society and Ageing“, the high-level forum brings together policymakers, educators, and industry leaders.

The main aim of the three-day event is to rapidly upskill allied health practitioners and paraprofessionals to manage the dual pressures of changing demographics and a rising non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic, which currently accounts for an estimated 80 per cent of all deaths in Barbados.

Opening the conference, TVET council chairman Dr Albert Best said the event is intended to strengthen human capacity and align training with current social needs.

“This occasion is particularly meaningful. Not only because it marks the launch of a key new initiative that will help to further the council’s mandate, but also because it brings together individuals and organisations that share a common understanding, which is health and wellness are foundational to national development, productivity and quality of life.”

Dr Best said the rationale for the conference is both straightforward and urgent, noting that Barbados is evolving rapidly, with citizens living longer while also facing persistent lifestyle-related challenges. He said more than a third of local adults have hypertension, while two-thirds are considered overweight or obese, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars in annual productivity losses.

“In response, the TVET Council has therefore positioned this conference to support the development of a competent, responsive and forward-thinking health and wellness workforce, particularly among paraprofessionals and allied practitioners who play a vital role in bridging the gaps in care, education, and outreach.

“This conference is therefore not simply an event; it is an intervention. It reflects our commitment to ensuring that training remains relevant, practical and align with the realities of our society.”

Executive Director Henderson Eastmond addressed the audience on the link between workforce health and national productivity.

He pointed out that absenteeism can severely affect institutional performance, noting that if a significant portion of staff is absent on any given day, production drops and it heavily affects “the dollars and cents” in both the private and public sectors.