1. Background
St. Lucia has the highest rate of non-communicable diseases per capita worldwide with diabetes being the most prevalent resulting in many amputations among its able workforce. School children from age 7 years have been diagnosed with diabetes, dependent on insulin at this early age. Despite the diagnosis, there is still no lifestyle change among the population to reverse this disease. Young people are the highest consumers of fast foods [chicken and fries, burgers, roasted kidney etc.] than locally grown foods. Advertisements for highly processed foods and snacks are designed to target this vulnerable group. The school setting contributes to a very high consumption of these processed snacks by students.
The Ministry of Education encourages and promotes the use and consumption of more local fruits and foods for the school feeding programme – eat what you grow. Students are also encouraged to be more involved in school gardens to promote use of locally grown foods.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals focus on Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well Being. The School Feeding Programme in St. Lucia is a very important Safety Net Programme, targeting 7747 vulnerable students at 80 Infant, Primary and Special Education Schools by providing breakfast and a hot nutritious meal, daily.
2.Developed Activities
The Department of Education, with support from the FAO, hosted a series of Nutrition Fairs from November 2019 to January 2020 at the 8 educational districts island wide. The fundamental aims were to educate the school population on Non-Communicable Diseases among children, to encourage healthy eating, which should develop into positive life-style changes.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health [Nutrition Officers], St. Lucia Diabetics Association, Students and Principals of Schools in each District, the Department, through the School Feeding Unit, hosted a series of Health Fairs island wide targeting over 200 participants in each district.
3.Methodology
The activities, which were done in collaboration with the Districts, were held during their annual district road race which saw the participation of students from schools within the district. The age range was from 6 years to 12 years. This was an opportune time to engage students, teachers and parents in this campaign.
The Nutrition Officers provided students with healthier, local snack options, and showed the benefits of consuming these and on-site smoothie demonstrations, incorporating local fruits. Snacks, using local fruits and products, were pre-prepared and distributed to students and participants. Nutrition information on foods were also presented. Nutrition Officers demonstrated, through use of charts and aids, the negative side effects of consuming these highly processed foods.
With the co-operation of a supplier, a Chef was provided who did live demonstrations using local fish. The Diabetes Association conducted a random sample screening for diabetes among the audience. Handouts were presented to participants detailing non-communicable diseases.
Participants were very receptive to information provided regarding non-communicable diseases and the many uses of local fruits as healthier substitutes.
Although the Ministry of Health has successfully implemented the removal of sale of soft drinks at all schools, other boxed juices are sold on compound to students. Pre-packed snacks and fast foods have replaced the local snacks. Principals are encouraged to prepare healthy snacks to curb spiraling non-communicable diseases. Where school feeding programmes exist at schools, cooks are provided with continuous training aimed at preparing healthier meal options incorporating local foods than processed foods.
4.Institutions and actors Involved
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Education
Diabetics Association
FAO
5.Quantitative and Qualitative data
- 200 participants in each district of the Island – 1600 island wide
- A total of 700 students participated in the blood pressure testing. Normal records were shown for all students who randomly conducted the test.
6.Description of the beneficiaries
- Students, male and female, of infant, primary and special education Schools.
- Teachers and Principals
7.Results
Despite these health fairs and information provided, having gone back to the school setting, students resort to eating pre-packed, highly processed snacks and consume artificially flavored juices which are easily accessed and at a cheaper price. Parents also find it easier to grab and pack the lunch bags with such items instead of preparing healthier snacks using local fruits.
These initiatives highlight and promote the importance of the school feeding programme, the relevance of local consumption, better eating habits and healthier food choices. Promotion of locally grown foods through such activities is a very important strategy to increase consumption, raise awareness and foster a healthier school environment. The consumption of locally grown foods reduces on importation bill and reliance on foreign produce; it creates an opportunity for farmers to expand on crop production and quality to satisfy the demands in the country.
Parents and children choose their foods according to income, access and availability, so it is crucial to present these alternate healthy choices at affordable prices and they are readily available. Implementing school gardens have shown interesting results among students. When students are involved in farming processes [preparing land, planting and harvesting crops], they show greater appreciation and desire to consume produce.
Children spend a considerable part of their lives in school, so the school environment and the available offers will play a crucial role in the definition of their eating habits. Promoting healthier diets is also promoting a healthier generation, which needs to be clear. For this to work, it’s very important to have coherence between the food offered by schools and the one offered outside the school perimeter, with unhealthy foods and snacks.
8.Advances
Notwithstanding the many challenges experienced with implementing policies to strengthen ongoing activities, the Unit has achieved many accomplishments thus far:-
•Promotion of School Feeding Programme.
•Provision of training to cooks in preparing healthy meals for students.
•Banning of Soft Drinks and Sugar Sweetened Beverages at Schools.
•Cooking competitions among secondary school students using local produce.
•Participating in World Food Day Activities
Participating in local activities which promote local foods [mango festival, banana festival].
•Promotion of school gardens.
•Promotion of healthy snacks and local drinks at sporting activities [health fairs].
9.Challenges
St. Lucia can work towards achieving targets outlined by FAO by working in collaboration with other Ministries and Organizations to overcome these challenges which hinder our progress.
•Delay in implementing policies which will enhance school feeding programme.
•Sale of soft drinks outside the school perimeter.
•Outside influence by vendors with the sale of unhealthy foods and snacks.
•Lack of creativity by cooks in preparing meals despite training.
•Lack of personnel to maintain school gardens and space to commence gardens.
•Parents continued to supply pre-packed snacks instead of home made snacks.
•Removal of key subjects in primary school curricula [home economics and agriculture].
