A recent study by the Ministry of Education found that 33% of public school students are overweight or obese. The study, which surveyed 21,583 students, also found that 3.7% of students are underweight.
The Ministry of Education is using the results of the study to plan interventions to promote healthy eating habits and active lifestyles in the educational community. These interventions include providing nutritional supplements to students with acute, moderate, and severe malnutrition, as well as educational activities to promote healthy eating and hygiene.
The Ministry of Education is also working to improve the quality of school meals. In 2024, 253,127 people received training on how to prepare healthy meals for students. The Ministry of Education is also working to ensure that school meals are varied, balanced, and appropriate for the nutritional needs of students.
In addition to the nutritional interventions, the Ministry of Education also provides deworming medication to students. In 2024, 1.8 million students were dewormed.
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El Caribe
24 February 2025