Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Parents must ensure that children eat healthy food says Minister Terrelonge
#Kingston, June 1, 2019 – Jamaica – Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, is calling on parents to make sure their children eat healthy foods. Mr. Terrelonge pointed out that there are certain foods that must be avoided at all cost, because they are “killing our children slowly”.
Addressing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between the Ministry and Nestlé Jamaica Limited for extension of the company’s health and wellness programme in schools, at the Gregory Park Primary School in St. Catherine on May 30, he noted that sodas and some baked products “are bad for you, and have no nutrients at all”.
The State Minister emphasised that children must get the best education, and unhealthy foods affect their growth.
“If we want our children to get the best education, to live best lives, we have to focus on their health,” he said, adding that many young children are suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, due partly to unhealthy consumption.
The agreement with Nestlé seeks to promote nutrition, health and wellness among school-aged children, and to encourage employability skills among young adults.
The MOU will be executed through two main programmes – Nestlé for Healthier Kids, and the Nestlé Youth Employment Initiative.
Under the programme, which now incorporates 15 schools and is expected to have 15,000 students participating by the end of the year, children will benefit from Wellness and Wheels class visits and International Chef Days; there will be Nutrition Education Training for Teachers, and the establishment of school gardens.
Meanwhile, Principal of the Gregory Park Primary School, Richard Williams, said he is pleased that the students will be exposed to “appropriate” information and techniques to guide them in making the right choices.
“We believe that our duty is to create an enabling environment for the overall development of our children, ensuring that they practise wholesome living and healthy lifestyles,” the Principal said.
For his part, Managing Director of Nestlé Jamaica, Daniel Caron, said the programme is about enhancing the quality of life for families and individuals, and to showcase the importance of healthy diets and healthy choices.
“A healthy mind comes from a healthy body, and we are making a difference. This is part of our giving back, being responsible in our communities,” Mr. Caron said.
Contact: Garfield L. Angus
Release: JIS
Photo Captions:
Header: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Alando Terrelonge (left), interacts with students at the Gregory Park Primary School in St. Catherine, during yesterday’s (May 30) signing of an expanded memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Ministry and Nestlé Jamaica Limited, to extend the company’s health and wellness programme in schools. Also sharing the moment at right is Principal of the school, Richard Williams.
Insert: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Alando Terrelonge (second left, seated), enjoys the performance of students at the Gregory Park Primary School in St. Catherine, Christine Liscombe and Tyrese Williams, during yesterday’s (May 30), signing of an expanded memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Ministry and Nestlé Jamaica Limited, for extension of the company’s health and wellness programme in schools. Also enjoying the performance (from left) are Head of Marketing for Nestlé’s Anglo-Dutch Caribbean, Patricio Torres; Managing Director for Nestlé Jamaica, Daniel Caron, and Principal of the school, Richard Williams.
Photos by Rudranath Fraser
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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