IN March this year, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Guyana, in partnership with Assuria General and Life Insurance Companies, and the Ministry of Education, launched a joint Healthy Lifestyles Programme that targets children from ages 11 to 16.
The programme was said to be a strategic move in combatting rising chronic health risks among adolescents locally and aimed to equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed choices about nutrition, physical activity, and overall well-being.
In a post that provided an update on the programme, UNICEF said that as part of this programme, 25 Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) teachers participated in a three-day nutrition education training, equipping them with practical knowledge and tools to bring important nutrition and healthy lifestyles messages into their classrooms.
According to UNICEF, teachers are at the heart of ensuring that this change happens, as every teacher who is equipped with the right knowledge can influence hundreds of students, families, and communities.
Adolescence, UNICEF said, is a particularly important time to build healthy habits. The right guidance can help to shape healthier choices adolescents make as they head into adulthood.
In Guyana, some 24.9 per cent of children are overweight or obese, increasing their risk of non-communicable diseases later in life. This makes prevention, education, and early action more important than ever before, UNICEF said.
Through partnerships such as this one, UNICEF affirmed that it is working with the government of Guyana, the Ministry of Education and Assuria to bring health and nutrition education closer to children, where it can make a lasting difference in schools, classrooms, and daily life.
During the launch of the programme, which was held at Assuria’s Church Street Georgetown office, it was said that the programme will initially focus on Region Four, with plans to empower some 6,000 adolescents within six months.
Activities highlighted included enhanced teacher training, development of age-appropriate educational resources, interactive classroom lessons, and hands-on experiences such as a pilot school garden to teach nutrition, healthy living, and environmental awareness.
The programme is expected to expand in 2027 to reach more schools and strengthen support for adolescents nationwide.
