Students in the Virgin Islands are to benefit from a programme that promotes the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviours as the Government embarks on a Healthy Schools Intervention Programme.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Social Development to introduce this programme into the primary schools curriculum during the 2015-2016 school year beginning with Grades 2 and 3.

The aim of the programme is to improve diet and physical activity patterns by instilling knowledge and skills, and providing motivation for adopting these behaviours.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Education and Culture at the Healthy Schools Intervention Programme Workshop Opening Ceremony, Acting Deputy Secretary, Mrs. Prudence Mathavious said this initiative is timely and important as Government seeks to improve the health of all residents of the Virgin Islands across the life cycle.

She added that school aged children are a very important part of the population, especially when one looks at the current trends in health among that age group.

Mrs. Mathavious said, “The onset of chronic non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure is on the increase in our school population. We must empower our children so that they can prevent or delay for as long as possible the onset of lifestyle related risk factors and diseases. Our eating and exercise habits must change.”

Mrs. Mathavious thanked the teachers for participating in the programme, adding that educators play a vital role in moulding students and helping them to develop lifelong skills which will help them make wise lifestyle choices.

The five day workshop is designed to assist educators in developing lesson plans which will be integrated into the primary schools curriculum. It will be facilitated by Senior Technical Officer, Food Security and Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control of the Caribbean Public Health Agency, Mrs. Christine Brocage.

The Healthy Schools intervention programme will be executed in phases, and will eventually be implemented in the secondary schools curriculum.

The Government of the Virgin Islands remains committed to creating a healthier Territory.