9,000 students take part in height census
It’s only the second of its kind, the National Height Census, which was carried out today among standard one students across the country. The information gathered from the process will be sent for analysis abroad to determine how malnutrition affects growth patterns among a certain age group of school children. Both the Ministries of Health and Education, are working on the project that will measure the height of at least nine thousand children. Delahnie Bain found out more about today’s activities and has this report.
Delahnie Bain, Reporting
It was no ordinary day for standard one students and instead of regular classes, they were measured as part of the National Height Census. The process looks at whether a child has the ideal height for their age and seeks to identify signs of growth retardation or stunted growth. But why are only standard one students being placed against the tape? We asked Ministry of Health Nutritionist, Robin Daly.
Robin Daly, Nutritionist, Ministry of Health
“It captures the age range that we’re looking at. The age range is ages six to nine and we realise that this would be the standard one class which would capture most students within this age range. The information gathered from this will be used to assess malnutrition issues, to assess food security issues, to assess whether there are other socio-economic factors which may impact that child’s growth.”
We visited Saint Luke Methodist and Saint John Vianney schools in Belize City to find out how the measuring was coming along.
Carolyn Welch, Vice Principal, Saint Luke Methodist
“I think so far, from what we have observed, that we are doing quite well.”
Delahnie Bain
“So you’re kids—most of them are in the right range for their age?”
Carolyn Welch
“Yes, they are.”
Delahnie Bain
“How many have you done so far?”
Carolyn Welch
“So far this is the first class that we have done and we have thirty-six children in this class.”
Amelia Bencomo, Vice Principal, St. John Vianney
“We’ve measured two classes out of three and so far we have found out that one child is under the category of A. The others are fairly normal. We have the one that falls under category A is one hundred and ten point one centimetres and the other one is one-fifteen, which is a little bit over that but it’s fairly normal. It’s good.”
Robin Daly
“So far, the children look okay for their age and their height. They look okay, but like I said it’s a countrywide census so it’s too early to really give a proper conclusion.”
While the teachers and principals conducting the measurements have participated in training workshops, Daly says the process is being monitored for efficiency.
Robin Daly
“We have monitors countrywide, I’m just doing the Belize District today. But there are people from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, who are all over this country doing the monitoring and the evaluation of this census to make sure the teachers are measuring these children properly, to see if there are any problems in the schools and to make sure the census is a success.”
Based on their height versus age, the students are classified into one of three categories; A: severe growth retardation, B: Moderate growth retardation or C: normal growth. Delahnie Bain for News Five.
The first national height census was carried out in 1996.
