Three ministers team up to help school children
Three government ministers have decided that it is time to join forces to get some programs rolling in Belize’s schools. Personnel from the Ministries of Human Development, Education and Health launched an effort to get the kids in shape, in more ways than one. Hyacinth Latchman reports.
The SHAPE program is a joint effort between several ministries to address health education, environmental health, physical education and sports as well as the children’s nutritional needs. This will not only include classes on nutrition and food safety but the program will provide meals to school children. Ernest Raymond Sr. told us more about the project which has been in the making since 1996.
Ernest Raymond Sr., Director Of Primary Education Unit
“We have started in the area of eye screening and hopefully later on as it relates to issues having to do with dental care as well as eye screening. Among the other things we hope as well all children in schools will be immunized. Those are some of the basic services. We are hoping that this program will be able to deliver but even more importantly to coordinate the efforts of all those ministries involved.”
The Ministries that will be working hand in hand with SHAPE all say that they are thoroughly committed to this project because it will be helping the children of Belize.
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister of Human Development
“I do believe that with a coordinated inter-ministerial effort such as this SHAPE program we can really work to bring about and to succeed to bring about true human development in our country. I’ve always felt and I made this personal commitment and I want to make it again today that for our children to learn they need to have their bodies nourished.”
Servulo Baeza, Minister of Health
“I am also here to reiterate the commitment of the Ministry of Health and myself to this program. Over the past few weeks I have been getting a lot of the information from my different department heads as to all the plans and expectations they have for this program.”
Cordel Hyde, Minister of Education
“We can all agree that the matter of empowering young people in a meaningful way in changing their attitudes and values so they can, that they can deal with the socio-economic problems of the day. It is not a job for one single ministry to handle. It is not a job that we as a people can accomplish if we do not come together and join hands.”
SHAPE with its four main components including environmental health will be teaching the children the importance of good hygiene and will be providing a cleaner environment for schools. The children present at this morning’s launch expressed their hopes for the program.
Gliselle Marin, Student, Holy Redeemer
“A tin of milk to quench their thirst. Let’s consider these children and think of them first. Just simple little things to make these children glad will bring you a reward that you never had. This reward will touch you with grace. It will stop the suffering of the children of this place. So please feed the children. Make Belize anew. For the children of the present and the future too.”
Hyacinth Latchman for News Five.
The feeding program has already been implemented in a number of schools in Belize City, but it is the intention of the three ministries that children countrywide will benefit in the near future.
