Promote Healthy Living in The Bahamas
Source: https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/healthy-living-and-lifestyle
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:29
Promote Healthy Living in The Bahamas
Accessibility Tool
Content Adjustments
Adjust Font Size
-
Default
+
Highlight Links
Letter Spacing
Dyslexia Font
Color Adjustments
Monochrome
Tools
Mute/unmute
Big Cursor
Reading Guide
Healthy Living and Lifestyle
Home
Healthy Living and Lifestyle
Citizens and Residents
Permits and Licences
Labour and Employment
Bahamas Online Skills Bank Employer Access
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Workers Compensation Benefits
Bahamas Online Skills Bank Job Seekers
Labour Acts and Laws
Unemployment Resources
International Job Vacancies
Job Counseling
Consumer Protection Information and Complaints
Health and Wellness
Healthy Living and Lifestyle
Women's Health
Adolescent and Children's Health
Medical Facilities
Men's Health
Work Safety
Immunisation
Education and Training
Guidance and Counseling Services
Applying for Scholarships
Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education
Bahamas Junior Certificate
Speech Therapy
Special Education
Bahamahost Certification Programme
Transitional Alternative Program
Recreation and Sports
Cricket
Sailing and Regattas
Golf
Boxing
Rugby
Diving
Fishing
Culture
Regatta
Performing Arts
Native Dishes
Festivals
Junkanoo
Change of the Guard Ceremony
Music
Home Coming
Places of Interest
Forts
Historical Sites
Art Galleries
National Parks
Museums
Blue Holes & Caves
Records and Official Documents
Birth Registration
Birth Certificate
Marriage Licence
Marriage Registration
Marriage Certificate
Certified Copy of a Deed or Document
Adoption Registration
Adoption Certificate
Passport
Services for Children
Fostering or Adopting a Child
Residential Care for Children
Foster Care Allowance
Daycare Services
Services for Schools
PACE for Pregnant Adolescent/Teen Parents
Provision of Uniform, Footwear, and Books
National Lunch Program
Preschool Assessments
Services for Families
Food Assistance
MedCard
Assistance for Utilities
Rent Assistance
Temporary Accommodations
Assistance with Basic Household Items
Burial Assistance
Assistance for Persons Experiencing Domestic Violence
Parenting Training
Substance Abuse Intervention
Travel Assistance
Fire and Natural Disaster Relief Assistance
Rehabilitative Welfare Services
Juvenile Support Services
Probation Services for Juveniles and Adults
Voluntary Supervision
Residential Care for Juveniles in Custody
After Care Services
Welfare Services for Inmates
Counseling for Juvenile and Adult Offenders
Older Persons
Food Assistance
Home Placement
House Repair Assistance
Assistance with Payment of Utilities
MedCard
Rent Assistance
Day Care Services
Family Support Groups
Home Care Services
Travel Assistance
Persons with Disabilities
Food Assistance
Disability Allowance
House Repair Allowance
Financial Assistance for Prosthetics
Support Groups for Males and Females
Sign Language Assistance
Braille Classes
Wheel Chair Transportation Assistance
Travel Assistance
Immigration
Visiting Abroad
Embassies and Consulates of The Bahamas
Bahamas Tourism Offices
Visa Requirements
Need Help Abroad?
News and Press Release
Healthy Lifestyles Initiative
Vision
All residents living healthy lifestyles throughout life.
Mission
To reduce illness, disability and death due to lifestyle related diseases.
Overview
Health statistics indicate high incidences of chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic respiratory disease, heart disease and cancer. For example, 45% of deaths in 2003 were due to chronic non-communicable diseases.
Preliminary data from the National Chronic Non-communicable Disease Survey, March 2006 (1,424 persons surveyed in 637 households in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Long Island)
21% had been diagnosed with high blood pressure
26% of those measured had elevated blood pressure
7% had been diagnosed with diabetes
12% had impaired and elevated fasting glucose on measurement (often used as an indicator for diabetes)
70% were overweight
8.8% were current smokers
64.5% described themselves as sedentary in leisure time
47% did not eat at least 1 fruit everyday
51% did not eat vegetables everyday
33% had “fast food” 2 or more times per week
Often times, chronic non-communicable diseases can be avoided through the adoption of healthy lifestyles. Far too many residents continue to make poor lifestyle choices that adversely affect their health and the health of their families. This more often than not translates into decreased quality of life and financial stress due to increased health burdens.
Healthy lifestyle can be defined as a way of life that promotes and protects health and well-being. This often includes practices such as eating nutrient rich foods that are moderate in calories and fat, exercising on most days, avoiding tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse and proper stress management.
The Ministry of Health has decided to implement an even more holistic approach to helping residents adopt and sustain healthy lifestyles, in order to continue to meet the country’s health needs.
Objectives:
To reduce prevalence of smoking, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating.
To carry out health promotion and education around the above.
To lobby for the institutionalisation of healthy lifestyle practices in work and organisation settings.
To implement monitoring and evaluation of healthy lifestyle programming nationally.
To support research on behaviour modification in the area of health.
To provide policy from a Governmental and Ministry level that supports healthy lifestyles nationally.
The Initiative is founded on a well grounded population health approach, and uses collaboration and community team building to foster its aims and objectives. The Healthy Lifestyle Secretariat was established, November 2005 to provide administrative coordination of the activities of the Initiative.
Flag-ship programmes used to accomplish these objectives
The Healthy Lifestyle Programme – The Healthy Dozen Club
The Healthy Lifestyles Passport
Related links:
Healthy Workplace Suggestions
Healthy Lifestyle Initiative Calendar of Events
For more information, please contact:
Ministry of Health, Capital House, P O Box N 3730, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas
Tel.
(242) 328-0040
Opening hours:
9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
Quick Useful Links
The National Honours Society 2026 Call for Nominations
Budget Performance Reports
Budget Documents
Preparing Your Home and Family for a Hurricane
General Orders
Request for Expression of Interest
Hurricane Shelter Listing 2025
Install the BNEA APP
COVID-19 Frequent Asked Questions
Department of Labour’s Jobseekers Portal
Celebrate Bahamas
Load More
For Website Technical Support
Call and speak to a DICT Customer service agent.
+1 242 604 4688
Need to reach the DICT? Send us an email.
support@bahamas.gov.bs
Get in touch with our DICT support team.
get in touch
Explore frequently asked questions.
ask question
This site uses cookies to serve our services. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
Okay, Thanks
Accessibility Tool
Content Adjustments
Adjust Font Size
-
Default
+
Highlight Links
Letter Spacing
Dyslexia Font
Color Adjustments
Monochrome
Tools
Mute/unmute
Big Cursor
Reading Guide
Healthy Living and Lifestyle
Home
Healthy Living and Lifestyle
Citizens and Residents
Permits and Licences
Labour and Employment
Bahamas Online Skills Bank Employer Access
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Workers Compensation Benefits
Bahamas Online Skills Bank Job Seekers
Labour Acts and Laws
Unemployment Resources
International Job Vacancies
Job Counseling
Consumer Protection Information and Complaints
Health and Wellness
Healthy Living and Lifestyle
Women's Health
Adolescent and Children's Health
Medical Facilities
Men's Health
Work Safety
Immunisation
Education and Training
Guidance and Counseling Services
Applying for Scholarships
Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education
Bahamas Junior Certificate
Speech Therapy
Special Education
Bahamahost Certification Programme
Transitional Alternative Program
Recreation and Sports
Cricket
Sailing and Regattas
Golf
Boxing
Rugby
Diving
Fishing
Culture
Regatta
Performing Arts
Native Dishes
Festivals
Junkanoo
Change of the Guard Ceremony
Music
Home Coming
Places of Interest
Forts
Historical Sites
Art Galleries
National Parks
Museums
Blue Holes & Caves
Records and Official Documents
Birth Registration
Birth Certificate
Marriage Licence
Marriage Registration
Marriage Certificate
Certified Copy of a Deed or Document
Adoption Registration
Adoption Certificate
Passport
Services for Children
Fostering or Adopting a Child
Residential Care for Children
Foster Care Allowance
Daycare Services
Services for Schools
PACE for Pregnant Adolescent/Teen Parents
Provision of Uniform, Footwear, and Books
National Lunch Program
Preschool Assessments
Services for Families
Food Assistance
MedCard
Assistance for Utilities
Rent Assistance
Temporary Accommodations
Assistance with Basic Household Items
Burial Assistance
Assistance for Persons Experiencing Domestic Violence
Parenting Training
Substance Abuse Intervention
Travel Assistance
Fire and Natural Disaster Relief Assistance
Rehabilitative Welfare Services
Juvenile Support Services
Probation Services for Juveniles and Adults
Voluntary Supervision
Residential Care for Juveniles in Custody
After Care Services
Welfare Services for Inmates
Counseling for Juvenile and Adult Offenders
Older Persons
Food Assistance
Home Placement
House Repair Assistance
Assistance with Payment of Utilities
MedCard
Rent Assistance
Day Care Services
Family Support Groups
Home Care Services
Travel Assistance
Persons with Disabilities
Food Assistance
Disability Allowance
House Repair Allowance
Financial Assistance for Prosthetics
Support Groups for Males and Females
Sign Language Assistance
Braille Classes
Wheel Chair Transportation Assistance
Travel Assistance
Immigration
Visiting Abroad
Embassies and Consulates of The Bahamas
Bahamas Tourism Offices
Visa Requirements
Need Help Abroad?
News and Press Release
Healthy Lifestyles Initiative
Vision
All residents living healthy lifestyles throughout life.
Mission
To reduce illness, disability and death due to lifestyle related diseases.
Overview
Health statistics indicate high incidences of chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic respiratory disease, heart disease and cancer. For example, 45% of deaths in 2003 were due to chronic non-communicable diseases.
Preliminary data from the National Chronic Non-communicable Disease Survey, March 2006 (1,424 persons surveyed in 637 households in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Long Island)
21% had been diagnosed with high blood pressure
26% of those measured had elevated blood pressure
7% had been diagnosed with diabetes
12% had impaired and elevated fasting glucose on measurement (often used as an indicator for diabetes)
70% were overweight
8.8% were current smokers
64.5% described themselves as sedentary in leisure time
47% did not eat at least 1 fruit everyday
51% did not eat vegetables everyday
33% had “fast food” 2 or more times per week
Often times, chronic non-communicable diseases can be avoided through the adoption of healthy lifestyles. Far too many residents continue to make poor lifestyle choices that adversely affect their health and the health of their families. This more often than not translates into decreased quality of life and financial stress due to increased health burdens.
Healthy lifestyle can be defined as a way of life that promotes and protects health and well-being. This often includes practices such as eating nutrient rich foods that are moderate in calories and fat, exercising on most days, avoiding tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse and proper stress management.
The Ministry of Health has decided to implement an even more holistic approach to helping residents adopt and sustain healthy lifestyles, in order to continue to meet the country’s health needs.
Objectives:
To reduce prevalence of smoking, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating.
To carry out health promotion and education around the above.
To lobby for the institutionalisation of healthy lifestyle practices in work and organisation settings.
To implement monitoring and evaluation of healthy lifestyle programming nationally.
To support research on behaviour modification in the area of health.
To provide policy from a Governmental and Ministry level that supports healthy lifestyles nationally.
The Initiative is founded on a well grounded population health approach, and uses collaboration and community team building to foster its aims and objectives. The Healthy Lifestyle Secretariat was established, November 2005 to provide administrative coordination of the activities of the Initiative.
Flag-ship programmes used to accomplish these objectives
The Healthy Lifestyle Programme – The Healthy Dozen Club
The Healthy Lifestyles Passport
Related links:
Healthy Workplace Suggestions
Healthy Lifestyle Initiative Calendar of Events
For more information, please contact:
Ministry of Health, Capital House, P O Box N 3730, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas
Tel.
(242) 328-0040
Opening hours:
9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
Quick Useful Links
The National Honours Society 2026 Call for Nominations
Budget Performance Reports
Budget Documents
Preparing Your Home and Family for a Hurricane
General Orders
Request for Expression of Interest
Hurricane Shelter Listing 2025
Install the BNEA APP
COVID-19 Frequent Asked Questions
Department of Labour’s Jobseekers Portal
Celebrate Bahamas
Load More
For Website Technical Support
Call and speak to a DICT Customer service agent.
+1 242 604 4688
Need to reach the DICT? Send us an email.
support@bahamas.gov.bs
Get in touch with our DICT support team.
get in touch
Explore frequently asked questions.
ask question
This site uses cookies to serve our services. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
Okay, Thanks