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This is according to Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, who told the Guyana Chronicle in a telephone interview, yesterday, that on Wednesday, there was a high-level meeting with several young doctors who are tasked with forming health clubs in schools to promote healthy eating.
Dr. Ramsaran said the ministry is still in the process of deciding what foods school canteens should provide children with, and in what they should be packaged. However, the ministry has already begun the educational aspect of the programme, which entails creating awareness by use of fliers, among other means, to tell students about the importance of physical activities.
Dr Ramsaran said physical education is very important, since children and young adults need to have some form of physical activity in their lives, so that they can burn out the excess calories.
Dr. Ramsaran also stressed the importance of having fewer intakes of sugary beverages and fatty foods.
The Health Minister had, earlier this year, said the Health Ministry would be working more vigorously and innovatively with schools in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles in the school system.
Dr. Ramsaran told members of the media earlier this year that he hopes that, with the support of the media, school health clubs would be promoted, as well as what might be called the key opinion leaders among students.
Dr Ramsaran is hoping that students and teachers would become change agents to influence the adult population in the fight against epidemics of non-communicable diseases. He had mentioned the Health Ministry’s concern about childhood obesity, which is being linked to school canteens.
Dr. Ramsaran had said the Health Ministry would be seeking to work with other partners, including the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project, as virtual education is a powerful tool.
