The Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the CARICOM-FAO-Mexico Initiative “Cooperation on Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean” has carried out a health assessment of students currently enrolled in the National school feeding program, with the goal of generating an insightful description of school meals provided in the school feeding program and students’ health needs in order to assess the level of congruence between them.
The Nutrition Consultant attached to the Project, Euthalia Philgence explained that with global trends indicating an increasing number of young people are developing noncommunicable diseases as a result of the food they consume, the initiative aims to ensure that the food offered to students through the School Feeding Program is healthy and nourishing.
Highlighting the importance of children to Saint Lucia’s future, Chief Agri-Enterprise Development Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, Thaddeus Constantine says the food and nutrition issues faced in Saint Lucia require a multi-disciplinary approach and measures that are a composite of policy, legislative, and institutional action.
Approximately 7000 students are currently being served by the National School Feeding Program.
As the Agriculture Ministry continues to unpack its plans for improving food and nutrition security in the coming months, the focus will remain on the students, ensuring their proper nutrition through access to healthy meals.
SOURCE: Ministry of Agriculture
