An inaugural health and wellness conference opened on Wednesday as the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council Barbados moved to strengthen the island’s workforce to meet the demands of an ageing population and a growing burden of chronic disease.

Held at the Hilton Hotel under the theme “Health, Education, and Promotion: Developing a Workforce that Supports Society and Ageing“, the high-level forum brings together policymakers, educators, and industry leaders.

The main aim of the three-day event is to rapidly upskill allied health practitioners and paraprofessionals to manage the dual pressures of changing demographics and a rising non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic, which currently accounts for an estimated 80 per cent of all deaths in Barbados.