The Valley, Anguilla, October 9, 2026: Anguilla has taken an important stride towards strengthening the food environment for children. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in collaboration with the PanAmerican Health Organization (PAHO) led a three-day training focused on the use of regional technical recommendations to guide the development of nutrition standards for schools.
The training in the use of the technical recommendations for the development of nutrition standards for Caribbean schools, held from 7–9 October 2026, brought together 34 representatives from Anguilla’s Ministry of Health, Tourism and Sports; Ministry of Social Development and Education; and Department of Natural Resources (Agriculture Unit).
Highlighting the importance of the initiative to Anguilla’s children, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Tourism and Sports, Mr. Karim Hodge, said: “Every child in Anguilla has the right to learn, grow and thrive in a safe and healthy environment. This initiative represents an important investment in our children's future, helping to ensure that the foods available in schools support their health, academic achievement, and overall well-being.”
CARPHA Executive Director, Dr Lisa Indar, underscored the importance of strengthening school food environments as part of wider efforts to prevent non-communicable diseases across the Caribbean. “Healthy habits established during childhood can influence health and well-being throughout the life course. By supporting Member States to strengthen nutrition standards in schools, we are helping to create environments where the healthier choice becomes the easier choice for our children, while investing in the prevention of obesity and non-communicable diseases across the Region.”
The initiative will support Anguilla in developing and strengthening national nutrition standards for all foods and beverages provided or sold in schools and early childhood services, contributing towards the development of a national school nutrition policy.
The training comes against the backdrop of increased documentation of high levels of overweight and obesity among Caribbean children and the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the Region. According to the Anguilla School Health Report 2025-2026, 15% of kindergarten students, 37% of New Entrants (Grades 1-6), and 33% of Grade 6 students were classified as overweight or obese. Unhealthy diets, particularly those high in fats, sugar, salt and highly processed foods, are among the factors contributing to overweight and obesity.
In response, CARPHA and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) jointly developed the Technical Recommendations for the Development of Nutrition Standards for Caribbean Schools in 2025. The recommendations are designed to help create healthier school environments by increasing access to healthier foods and beverages while reducing the availability and consumption of unhealthy options. They apply to foods and beverages served or sold in Caribbean primary and secondary schools, including prepared meals and packaged products. The training went beyond familiarising participants with the recommendations, placing strong emphasis on their practical application within the school environment.
Participants strengthened their skills in planning and preparing healthy meals and snacks for school-aged children, safe food handling and hygiene, determining appropriate nutrient and meal standards, and assessing processed and ultra-processed foods. The programme also addressed the responsibilities of school food providers and strategies for strengthening collaboration among the sectors involved in school nutrition.
Through practical and group-based activities, participants examined criteria for meals prepared using fresh foods and mixed ingredients, considerations for packaged foods, and approaches for training school food providers and other stakeholders in applying the regional recommendations.
A key outcome of the training was the development of draft school nutrition standards for foods and beverages served and sold in Anguilla’s schools using a multisectoral approach. This will contribute towards the revision of the 2014 draft National School Nutrition Policy.
For children and families, stronger school nutrition standards can contribute to healthier food choices during a critical period of growth and development, while helping to address the longer-term risk of obesity and diet-related NCDs. The initiative also supports wider regional efforts towards ending all forms of malnutrition and reducing the burden of NCDs and obesity.
This activity was implemented by CARPHA and facilitated in collaboration with PAHO and the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) with funding through the CARPHA–PAHO Subsidiary Agreement, Strengthening Caribbean Public Health 2026–2027.
For more information on the extensive work of CARPHA, including that of the Chronic Disease and Injury department, follow CARPHA on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram or visit the website: www.carpha.org
Photo Captions:
Photo Caption: Left to right: Ms. Jennifer Gumbs, Senior Health Educator, MoH; Ms. Judith Owen, Senior School Health Nurse, Ministry of Social Development and Education (MSDE); Dr Aisha Andrewin, Chief Medical Officer; Ms. Barney Richardson, Permanent Secretary MSDE; Ms. Carol A. Bart Elliott, Director, National Primary Prevention Programme; Ms. Abigail Caleb, Senior Technical Officer, Food Security and Nutrition, CARPHA; Ms. Robertha Campbell, Nutritionist, MoH; Mr. Karim Hodge, Permanent Secretary, MoH; and Mrs. Shellya Rogers-Webster, Minister MSDE.
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