Nutrition challenge criteria
How nutrition entries are judged and scored in the Challenge.
Corporate Wellness Challenge
The Corporate Wellness Challenge – 8×8 Edition is an eight-month national workplace wellness initiative organised by the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The July 2025–February 2026 edition promoted physical activity, healthy eating, and regular health checks across Jamaican workplaces.
Objectives
The challenge brings physical activity, healthier eating, health education and screening into the working day. Workplace and regional events encourage participation, while a points-based competition helps teams build consistent habits over the eight-month edition.
Through participating organisations, employees can learn about NCD risk factors, smoking cessation and safer sex, take part in health screening, and put Jamaica’s dietary guidance into practice.
Challenges and criteria
Select a category to explore the activities, participation requirements and points.
Criteria | Physical activity
| Activity | Requirements | Points | Bonus | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature Hike | Min. 5 staff must participate and register before and at the event. | Up to 50 points | No bonus points | An outdoor event with three difficulty levels for varying fitness levels. |
| Office Workout Series | Host at least one 60-min session; submit date/time 1 week prior; upload video and register within 48 hrs. | 20 points for execution; up to 100 points based on staff participation | Additional 10 points for inviting guests | Staff and guests engage in sessions to boost physical movement between July 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026. |
| Road Run | Enter at least one designated Corporate Wellness Challenge road run. | Up to 100 points based on staff participation | No bonus points | Partnering with Running Events Jamaica, runs will offer points and spot prizes. |
| Park Run | Mobilize staff to participate in at least one of the four regional events. | Up to 100 points based on staff participation | Simultaneous 5k run/walks across MOHW regions in the early morning for Caribbean Wellness Day. | |
| Obstacle Course Event | Submit a team of 4 (at least 1 female) Fastest team wins | Up to 100 points for winning team | 20 points for participating team | Teams tackle fun, strategic obstacles along a scenic route to test endurance. |
Criteria | Quiz
| Activity | Requirements | Points | Bonus | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz Competition | Organisations may enter one team of four (4) people and two (2) reserves will be allowed to participate | Up to 100 points to be awarded per round: 100 points for 1st place, 50 points for 2nd place, 20 points for 3rd place | No bonus points | Test your health knowledge. Our Health Quiz will test how much you know about health and wellness through a series of matches culminating in a live playoff. |
Criteria | Health education
| Activity | Requirements | Points | Bonus | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Sensitization Session | At least one health education session hosted. Sessions must cover no less than 3 of the topics below: 1. Smoking Cessation 2. Sexual Health 3. Physical Activity 4. Healthy Eating 5. NCDs/Know Your Numbers 6. STI Awareness and Stigma and discrimination Sessions must be led by a healthcare professional or organisations. Session register and a one (1) minute video to be submitted for validation of session. Sessions can be hosted between July 2, 2025 – February 28, 2026 | Up to 100 points will be awarded based on percentage of staff members who participate | 20 bonus points awarded for each additional topic beyond the first three | We want you to know more about your health. This challenge will increase knowledge and awareness around health geared toward improved health and wellness. |
Criteria | Nutrition
| Activity | Requirements | Points | Bonus | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy Recipe Challenge | Organizations will provide recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A maximum of three (3) recipes are required for each category. Submissions will be evaluated based on: • Adherence to the food-based dietary guidelines of Jamaica • Use of local Jamaican foods • Creativity and appeal • Public vote All submissions must be original work. By submitting, participants grant the MoHW the right to showcase work publicly. The finalists will prepare their respective recipes live at a Cook-off at which the public will be invited to attend. | Up to 60 points can be awarded for each set of recipes | Nutrition Sectional - Each company that enters the competition will be assessed (at no cost) to gauge the nutritional environment of the workplace. They will be linked to nutritionists across the region who will provide support over a period of 5 months and companies who improve the most will be awarded. | Remember to eat healthy. Our recipe competition will encourage the development of healthy meals that can be prepared at home and even taken to work as part of our drive towards healthier food consumption. |
Criteria | Health screening
Eligibility for workplaces with active screening programmes
Screening for non-communicable diseases involves tests performed for the early detection of select diseases, before an individual starts to show symptoms or signs. This is important because in most cases, early detection of disease allows for earlier intervention and a better prognosis (especially if management is adhered to).
The Ministry of Health and Wellness' “Know Your Numbers” initiative for community-based screening for NCDs commenced in 2023 and involved screening in 4 main areas as it relates to NCDs – Blood pressure, Blood sugar, Blood cholesterol, BMI (Weight for height). Additional tests are done at “Know Your Numbers” events, including Waist circumference, HIV and Syphilis tests and Visual Acuity.
For the purposes of the Corporate Wellness Challenge for 2025, criteria have been selected for the minimum acceptable standards for the initiation of active screening programmes at workplaces. The workplaces have been separated into micro/small, medium and large based on number of staff and the requirements for each category are listed below, with score allocation.
Minimum set of screening tests required to be performed/recommended at annual events
Micro/small business (20 or fewer staff)
Blood pressure Random blood glucose Weight Height
Medium business (21–50 staff)
Blood pressure Random Blood glucose Weight Height Referral to doctor for blood cholesterol test in lab
Large business (more than 50 staff)
Blood pressure Random Blood glucose Weight Height Referral to doctor for blood cholesterol test and other relevant NCD screening tests – Pap smear, Digital rectal exam, PSA, mammogram, stool tests in lab
Minimum % of staff screened
Micro/small business (20 or fewer staff)
60%
Medium business (21–50 staff)
60%
Large business (more than 50 staff)
60%
Point allocation for % of staff screened
Micro/small business (20 or fewer staff)
1-20%: 40 points 21-40%: 60 points 41-60%: 80 points 61%-80%: 100 points
Medium business (21–50 staff)
1-20%: 40 points 21-40%: 60 points 41-60%: 80 points 61%-80%: 100 points
Large business (more than 50 staff)
1-20%: 40 points 21-40%: 60 points 41-60%: 80 points 61%-80%: 100 points
Challenge leaderboard
Loading the latest scores…
- Total organisations
- Participating in the challenge
- Highest score
- Current leader’s total
- Average score
- Across all organisations
| Rank | Organisation | Total points |
|---|
Resources
Watch the challenge videos and find the guides, activity criteria and templates for your workplace.
Health screening challenge criteria
Which health screenings are required and how they are scored, by organisation size.
In-house screening report template
A template for reporting the results of in-house staff health screenings.
Nutrition side quest brief
Instructions for the Challenge’s nutrition side quest.
Nature hike to Renu’s Attraction, Stony Hill
Challenge teams take to the trails on a nature hike at Renu’s Attraction in Stony Hill.
Corporate Wellness Challenge launch recap
Highlights from the launch of the Corporate Wellness Challenge – 8×8 Edition.
IGL joins the Corporate Wellness Challenge
IGL signs on as one of the organisations taking part in this year’s Challenge.
Seprod joins the Corporate Wellness Challenge
Seprod signs on as one of the organisations taking part in this year’s Challenge.
Corporate Wellness Challenge brief
An overview of how the Corporate Wellness Challenge – 8×8 Edition works.
Corporate Wellness Challenge pledge poster
A printable poster for teams to display their Challenge pledge.
Physical activity challenge criteria
How physical activity entries are judged and scored in the Challenge.
Quiz challenge criteria
Rules and scoring for the Challenge quiz.
Health education challenge criteria
How health education activities are judged and scored in the Challenge.
No resources of that type yet.
Useful links
Health and well-being
Nutrition
Sexual health
From the gallery
Keep your workplace moving
Ask about future editions, or contact the challenge team about videos and participation records.
Sponsors and partners
2025–2026 edition. Original Ministry campaign page
