Shanielle Allen and Jonathan Atkins | Press the accelerator – finalise School Nutrition Policy

Daily Jamaicans are presented with news reports and updates about the deadly crime and road traffic realities. These stories capture the dire urgency of the lack of safety on our roads and communities. Interestingly non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are killing more Jamaicans than guns and vehicular accidents. Yet, where is the urgency? We continue to observe an overworked health sector, bursting at its seams and overrun by sick Jamaicans.

These illnesses aren’t the deadly infections of the past caused by poor sanitation or imported diseases. Instead, they arise from a food environment shaped by poor cultural dietary habits and profit-driven priorities in food production, leading to the overconsumption of excessive added sugar, sodium, trans fats, and saturated fats. Our cultural approach to diet and food has created a national crisis. The statistics are alarming: one in three Jamaicans suffers from hypertension, and one in eight has diabetes. While these figures paint a grim picture for the adult population, the situation is equally alarming for our youth.

As we start the new school year, the absence of a School Nutrition Policy is palpable. The Green Paper, initially shared in May 2022, has yet to be finalised, leaving a significant gap in the fight against NCDs in Jamaica. This delay is not just a bureaucratic oversight – it represents a failure to prioritise the health and future of our children. Healthy childhood nutrition is our first line of defence against lifestyle diseases and a crucial step towards improved cognitive function and learning abilities. As a part of our wider educational strategic outlook, we must begin to evaluate our nutrition framework to ensure children are being fed to achieve optimum academic and athletic performance. Nutrition is symbiotic with childhood physical and cognitive development and must be prioritised as a wider national priority. The National School Nutrition Policy is the vehicle that can drive us towards a reality where we are fuelling our children to health and excellence.

HYPERTENSIVE

In 2017, more than 30,000 children between the ages of 10 and 19 were reported to be hypertensive. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global School-based Student Health Survey further highlighted that 20 per cent of boys and 26.4 per cent of girls aged 13-17 in Jamaica were overweight, with nine per cent of boys and 9.5 per cent of girls in the same age group classified as obese. Yet, it seems to be business as usual and there has been no clear national push for serious targeted policies to make our school food environments healthier for our children. Instead, we have seen schools become dumping grounds for unhealthy and ultra-processed foods and concessionaires providing meals where the nutritive value is sacrificed for their bottom-line profit margins.

Compounding this issue, the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey (2016-2017) revealed that over 70 per cent of the population struggles with insufficient access to safe, healthy, and nutritious foods. This lack of access is especially pronounced in schools, where more than three-quarters of students obtain their lunch from canteens, tuck shops, or vendors in the school food environment. These findings are troubling, particularly when considering that the Jamaican economy stands to lose an estimated J$77 billion between 2017 and 2032 if effective interventions for NCDs are not implemented.

RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH

A rights-based approach is essential when tackling this issue. The School Nutrition Policy is not merely a guideline but a critical safeguard for our children’s right to a healthy food environment. The stakes are high. Jamaican children are at significant risk of becoming overweight and obese, with obesity rates doubling in boys and increasing by 50 per cent in girls over the past decade. Despite these alarming trends, many school environments continue to offer diets high in fats, sodium, and sugars. The increasing presence of concessionaires in schools has exacerbated the problem, flooding our children’s food options with unhealthy choices. The delay in finalising the School Nutrition Policy has hit a serious speed bump, but the urgency of the situation demands that we accelerate our efforts. Policies concerning our children’s health cannot afford to be stuck in the slow lane.

This is a call to action for the Ministry of Education and Youth – the time to finalise and implement the School Nutrition Policy is now. We cannot afford to wait any longer. The health of our children, and by extension, the future of our nation, is at stake. As we gear up for the 2024/25 academic year, we are calling for the implementation of the policy.

Students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders must unite in demanding the overdue implementation of the National School Nutrition Policy. We owe it to our children to provide them with a healthy start, ensuring they have the best possible foundation for a successful and healthy life.

The fight against NCDs is not one we can afford to lose, and it starts with the food on our children’s plates. Our children deserve it.

Shanielle Allen is policy and advocacy coordinator and Jonathan Atkins is communications coordinator at The Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network, which is a youth-led organization advocating for the rights of Jamaica’s children and youth at the policy and legislative level. Send feedback to jyan@youthadvocateja.org and columns@gleanerjm.com