7 News Belize

Mexican Feeding Program Could Go Nationwide
posted (November 16, 2017)
You hear about feeding programs at a few schools, but the Ministries of Education, Agriculture and Health have collaborated to establish a national feeding program for all Belizean children. It is part of a wider initiated called "Mesoamerica Hunger Free". Today at a ceremony at the Agriculture Show Grounds in Belmopan, Courtney Weatherburne found out how important this project is for youth and the entire country.

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
The "Mesoamerica Hunger Free" project was first launched in 2015 in Mexico. The main objective is to provide healthy foods to needy school children in Latin American and the Caribbean.

Belize is among 13 participating countries. The initiative has already been implemented in the South where 4 schools in Toledo now have new cafeterias.

There is one in San Antonio, Santa Cruz, Santa Elena and Pueblo Viejo.

Today, representatives from the Ministries of Education, Agriculture and Health all signed a Memorandum of Understanding to extend this project countrywide.

Emilio Montero, Coordinator for the National Food & Nutrition Security Commission, Ministry of Agriculture
"I mean very historic event and our FAO representative here mentioned it that we are the first in the Caribbean to sign such type of agreement."

Minister of Education Patrick Faber is already looking into Belize City schools that would benefit from this feeding program.

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"Key among the factors that we have to be concerned about when we are dealing with students from poor families is nutrition, and you know in Belize City, we have a central kitchen that caters to the students on the Southside primarily but we are looking to see how we can do something on the Northside."

Now it is more than just a feeding program. Another important element is incorporating agriculture into other areas of study while at the same time, promoting the value of self-grown food.

Emilio Montero
"Nutrition education using the school garden as a teaching tool as Dr. Babb mentioned you can use the garden to teach kids Math, not only agriculture but use it for math, for English, for Arts and so on that is another component."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"And these school gardens have been established at these 4 schools already?"

Emilio Montero
"Yes."

But with all these components - it is really about the health of children which in turn will lead to a healthier population in the future.

Dr. Ramon Figueroa, CEO - Ministry of Health
"I think in Health we recognize that if we want to have significant impact in terms of addressing the issue of non-communicable diseases, there is two things that need to happen, one we need to start at a young age that we can change dietary patterns and nutrition patterns and we need to cooperate with other key ministries that actually have the solution."

Tomorrow, the team will head over to Santa Elena Village in Toledo to officially open the school cafeteria and school garden.

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