BRIDGETOWN, 01 February 2024 The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) has expanded its sponsorship through the Theme Category for the upcoming Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) NGC Caribbean Media Awards to two (2) categories; Print Media and Television. The HCC recognises the importance of the content published by the regional media, as a key partner, in the efforts to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity and non-communicable diseases, across the Caribbean. Media advocacy around healthy food policies supports on-the-ground and digital communication campaigns across the Caribbean. Through this effort, the HCC continues to encourage the media to increase the coverage and the focus on comprehensive healthy nutrition food policies, as one of the key steps in promoting an environment which is conducive to good health.
On August 13, 2024, the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC) CBU Caribbean Media Awards Gala event transmitted live from Belize, will include an award for print journalism and television journalism under the theme: Healthy Nutrition Food Policy. The prize will include a trophy as well as a BBD $2,000.00 bursary for the Award winners each, to produce additional material under the theme. This year, the HCC will also sponsor the travel and accommodation of the two (2) winners in the theme category: Healthy Nutrition Food Policy; Print and Television, to attend the Awards.
The eligible entries for the HCC-supported Award will explore regional healthy food policies including regulating school food environments, particularly through the restriction or ban on the sale and marketing of ultra-processed food products in schools (including sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs)); fiscal policies to make healthy foods more affordable while deterring consumption of unhealthy ultra-processed food products through taxation such as the introduction of or increase in SSB taxes of at least 20%; and strengthening food labelling through the introduction of octagonal ‘high-in’ warning labels on pre-packaged foods using the PAHO nutrient profile model.
This category is open to all print and television media, whether or not they are CBU members, operating from: Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Virgin Islands; the Commonwealth of Dominica; Grenada; Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat; St. Kitts & Nevis; St. Lucia; St. Vincent & the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; and the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Entries must have been published between January 1 and December 31, of 2023 and can be submitted through to February 29, 2024.
In welcoming the continued partnership with the CBU, HCC Communications Officer, Mrs. Sheena Warner-Edwards noted that “the HCC has been able to fortify direct engagement with the region’s media. In small developing settings such as those in the Caribbean, the media has been a major partner in the public health space. As partners, they have served as crucial health information vehicles. Their significant influence has led to increased awareness in and adoption of best public health practices, exemplified by the productive dialogue around and implementation of healthy nutrition food policies across the region”.
More information on the Awards can be obtained from CBU’s website, HCC’s website or through CBU’s and HCC’s other online platforms.
