Jamaica Moves now in schools
Education Minister Fayval Williams said healthy habits, such as being physically active and eating well, have proven to yield long-term dividends in the fight against lifestyle diseases.
Speaking last Friday during activities marking National School Moves Day, at Ferncourt High in St Ann on April 29, Williams said data from a 2017 Global School Health Survey showed that 65 per cent of children, 13 to 17 years, were overweight, while 26 per cent were considered obese.
She further referenced the findings of a 2016-2017 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey which, she said, indicated that one in two, or 54 per cent, of overall Jamaicans were preobese or obese.
Williams said that Jamaica Moves in Schools was an early intervention programme, and among those designed to ensure that children participate in a minimum amount of physical activity daily, en route to creating overall healthier lifestyles.
“We are happy to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Association of Principals and VicePrincipals of Secondary Schools, and the Jamaica Association of Primary and Infant Schools, to encourage a healthier lifestyle among our [student] population,” Williams stated.
She added that, while COVID19 had severely impacted the programme’s implementation, “we are committed to renewing the efforts to achieve the desired results, including encouraging children to get moving about, even in their own home environments.