Water station in Constitution River Bus Terminal

Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the way how Barbadian citizens think and operate. The adverse effects on persons with co-morbidities like diabetes, as well as the risk for severe illness increasing with age, has not boded well for countries such as Barbados, which has a high elderly population and where non-communicable diseases already account for 83 per cent of the country’s deaths.

Today, World Health Day, Newport Water partnered with Massy Card and the Transport Authority to provide an essential public amenity by means of a Hydrate Barbados water station.

The aim of the Hydrate Barbados Programme has been not only reducing plastic waste in the environment, but to encourage healthier lifestyles and habits across Barbados.

Massy Card has come on board to sponsor the water station in the crucial Constitution River Bus Terminal, which can see foot traffic in the thousands each day.

Following the theme of “Together for a fairer, healthier world”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for urgent action to eliminate health inequities and mobilise action to attain better health for all and leave no one behind.

Everyone deserves access to water, whether it be kids at school, the tourists visiting and walking along the Hastings Boardwalk, or the general Barbadian public in the bus terminal and other key locations.

“Water woes are no stranger to Barbadians, and because Newport cannot do it alone, we call on all our partners and clients to ensure that no one is left behind.

Every refill at a station like this is one less single use plastic bottle in a gutter, dumped on a beach or a public space, but it also means persons are choosing water as their drink of choice, and this helps in combatting the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, which are contributing to the high NCD rates and obesity in our island,” Newport Water said in a press release.

The release added: “As we launch our 8th Hydrate Barbados station today, it means that people in Barbados can more easily access water when they’re out and about on their daily business.

And there’s no need to worry about the station’s safety or sanitisation, as it’s completely contactless due to our foot pedal water dispensing innovation.

We are one step closer in our effort to eliminate health inequalities by making world-class amenities available to every local and tourist alike. We trust that the public will utilise the station wisely.” (PR)