National Multi-sectoral Non-Communicable Disease Strategy and Plan of Action for The Bahamas (2017-2022).

The National Multi-sectoral Non-Communicable Disease Strategy and Plan of Action for The Bahamas lays down actions to reduce preventable morbidity and premature mortality due to NCDs and control of the risk factors attributed to these diseases. The action plan covers the period between 2017 and 2022. The objectives of this plan are: (1) to strengthen coordination and management of NCD prevention and control; (2) to promote integration of NCD prevention policies, frameworks and actions through multisectoral approaches; (3) to reduce risk factors (i.e. tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, obesity) and promote healthy and active living throughout the life course; (IV) to strengthen the health system (public and private sectors) at all levels, thereby improving equitable access to quality health services and financial risk protection; and (V) to improve the quality and scope of NCD and risk factor surveillance systems while strengthening operational research for planning, monitoring and evaluation of NCD-related policies and programs. Through its strategic areas of action the NCD plan seeks to address: (I) high level political commitment translating into actions, (II) governance for NCD at the community level, including building alliances and networks, and fostering citizen engagement and empowerment, (III) health in all policies to build healthy and smart environments, (IV) research, national surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, and (V) reorienting health services further towards prevention and control of chronic diseases.
This policy addresses the importance of healthy diets in preventing NCDs, and the contribution of the ingestion of sugary beverages and foods with high salt and fat contents and low nutritional value for the NCDs. The National Food Nutrition Security Policy will be enacted and implemented, and the Food Based Dietary Guidelines will be used widely for improving healthy diets and healthy choices. The national campaign, awareness and public education will be conducted for the prevention and control of obesity (particularly focused on childhood obesity), including healthy diets and physical activity. The Child Friendly School Initiative will be implemented to prevent and reduce obesity to protect children from marketing of foods and non- alcoholic beverages high in saturated fats, trans fatty acids, free sugars. Monitoring and evaluation will be conducted on school feeding programs for the prevention and control of diet-related diseases. The legal framework will be developed, and fiscal measures will be taken to increase consumption of healthy foods and beverages and decrease demand of unhealthy foods and beverages, such as increasing subsidy for fresh fruits and vegetables and support for healthy food and safe drinking water in schools. Nutrition standards will be established for food available in schools and delivered in food services. CARICOM Standard on food labelling will be implemented and front-of-package labelling system will be developed to assure quality of foods. National salt targets will be identified for selected food categories.