Ministry Empowers Youth to Beat Diabetes
The Ministry of Health and Social Development marked World Diabetes Day by launching a youth-focused video competition, 'Beat Diabetes Before It Starts,' to promote healthy habits that prevent Type 2 diabetes. The winner, Tiffany Faulkner of the Claudia Creque Educational Centre, received a $150 voucher sponsored by the Unite BVI Foundation.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is pushing prevention into the classroom and community with a new youth-focused effort to curb Type 2 diabetes in the Virgin Islands. Timed to coincide with World Diabetes Day on November 14, and aligned with this year’s global theme, "Diabetes During the Life Stages," the Ministry launched the "Beat Diabetes Before It Starts" video competition to encourage children and young people to adopt healthy habits early.
Public Health Officer Renee Leonard emphasised that Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable through everyday choices. "Simple but powerful lifestyle choices — a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding tobacco — can greatly reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes," she said, noting that prevention begins long before adulthood and that early education shapes lifelong behaviour.
The competition asked participants to create one-minute videos showing how they stay active, eat well and build healthy routines. The Ministry said its aim was to inspire young people to be conscious of their health and wellness and to share that message with peers and family. This year’s winner is Tiffany Faulkner of the Claudia Creque Educational Centre.
Faulkner received a $150 voucher from Everything Organic, generously sponsored by the Unite BVI Foundation. According to the Ministry, her entry "beautifully captured the spirit of the campaign," demonstrating practical, age-appropriate actions children can take today for long-term health.
The initiative forms part of the Ministry’s wider commitment to protecting and promoting public health through policy, programmes and partnerships. Officials say these efforts include school and community outreach, nutritional education, and promoting physical activity as a normal part of childhood.
For BVI residents, the campaign is a reminder that small household and school-level changes — planning balanced meals, prioritising daily play or exercise, and modelling healthy behaviours — can make a significant difference in reducing the community’s future burden of diabetes. For more information or media enquiries, the Ministry’s Public Health Communications Specialist Natasha Lettsome-Humphrey can be contacted at 468-2286 or nlettsome@gov.vg.
General government enquiries can be directed to BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com or by calling (284) 468-3701. The Ministry encourages families, teachers and youth groups to keep the conversation going about prevention and to look out for upcoming programmes that support healthy living in the Virgin Islands.
Primary source: BVI Government