Conclusions
131. The Meeting recognized that good nutrition is fundamental for children’s current and future health, as well as their development and learning. The benefits of developing healthy dietary and lifestyle patterns from an early age onwards can positively impact on people’s nutrition and health throughout their adult lives, and enhance the productivity of individuals and nations. Nutrition education is an important element in an overall strategy aimed at improving food security and preventing all forms of malnutrition. Schools (from pre-school to secondary) are ideal settings for promoting lifelong healthy eating habits and lifestyles.
132. Most countries in the region implement school health and nutrition programmes, including school feeding, deworming, vitamin and mineral supplementation, etc. Innovative, creative and effective school nutrition education programmes exist in some countries in the region. However, these are often small-scale and implemented as pilot projects, focus on children with special needs and prioritize the transfer of knowledge over the promotion of active learning and the creation of appropriate attitudes, life skills and behaviors. Generally, nutrition education is not systematically integrated into school curricula in the region.
Recommendations for country action
133. In order to build a comprehensive and sustainable school nutrition programme that addresses all forms of malnutrition, the Meeting recommended that countries:
Recommendations for FAO action
134. Initiate the establishment of a coordinating mechanism for standardising data collection on school-age children (i.e. food consumption, dietary and eating patterns, anthropometry and physical activity) at the regional level.
135. Organise a follow-up satellite meeting on School based Nutrition at the forthcoming International Congress on Nutrition (Bangkok, 4-9 October 2009).
136. Disseminate the nutrition education materials developed by FAO.
137. Explore opportunities for translating FAO materials into additional languages.
138. Explore opportunities for providing technical assistance in the development and implementation of school nutrition projects in interested countries and identify funding support through FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme or bilateral trust funds.
139. Promote sharing of information and materials on school based nutrition among ANFN members.
140. Facilitate provision of assistance to countries in the establishment of M & E system for monitoring progress on school based nutrition.
141. The draft report of the Meeting was reviewed by the participants and adopted.
142. In conclusion, Biplab K. Nandi thanked the participants and guests for their active participation and valuable inputs to the Meeting. He expressed optimism that the outputs of the Meeting specifically the action plans at the country level would bring forward school nutrition education for sustainable food and nutrition security.
Appendix I
Technical Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Network for
Food and Nutrition on School Based Nutrition
17 – 20 July 2007, Bangkok, Thailand
BANGLADESH | Mirza Altaf Hossain Executive Director Bangladesh Applied Nutrition & Human Resource Development Board Ministry of Agriculture Sech Bhaban, 22, Manik Mia Avenue Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka 1207 Telephone: (880-2) 9117862/8110798 Facsimile: (880-2) 8110798 Email: [email protected] |
Sanjib Kumar Saha PRA Promoters' Society – Bangladesh House # 8/A/8, (3rd Floor) Road # 14 (New) Dhanmondi, Dhaka Bangladesh Telephone: (880-2)-9128744 Mobile: 880-01711152344 Facsimile: (880-2)-8113446 Email: [email protected] |
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CAMBODIA | Chhavyroth So Vice Chief of the Technical Office School Health Department Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport No. 169 Norodom Blvd, Sangkat Beong Keng Kang I, Khan Chamka Morn Phnom Penh Telephone: (+855 23) 218408, Mobile: (+855 12) 694607 Facsimile: (+855 23) 218408 Email: [email protected] |
Yoshiko Ogawa No. 5, Street No. 370 Boeung Keng Kang Phnom Penh Telephone: (+855 23) 726422 Facsimile: (+855 23) 221560 Email: [email protected] |
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CHINA | Fengying Zhai Deputy Director National Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Secretary General Chinese Nutrition Society 29 Nan Wei Road Beijing 100050 Telephone: (8610) 83132503l; mobile: 13501099588 Facsimile: (8610)83132909 Email: [email protected] |
Ma Jun Deputy Director Professor Institute of Child and Adolescent Health Peking University 38 Xueyuan Road Beijing 100083 Telephone: 86(10)-82801624 86-13641010885 Facsimile: 86(10)82801178 Email: [email protected] |
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INDIA | Shashi P. Gupta Technical Adviser Food and Nutrition Board Ministry of Women and Child Development Government of India (Room No. 105, 2nd floor) Jeevan Deep Building, Sansad Marg New Delhi 110001 Telephone: (91-11) (O) 23362519, (R) (91-11) 26863063 Facsimile: (91-11) 23362519 Email: [email protected] |
P.K Mohanty Deputy Educational Adviser, Room No 326-C Wing Ministry of Human Resource Development Shastri Bhawan New Delhi 110001 Telephone: (91-11) 91-11-23383432 Email: [email protected] |
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INDONESIA | Hardinsyah Professor and Dean Faculty of Human Ecology Bogor Agricultural University Jl. Kampur Gedung FEMA W1-W2 Kampus IPB Darmaga, Bogor 16680 Telephone: (62-251) 642 092 Facsimile: (62-251) 629 882 Email: [email protected] |
Nata Irawan SH. MSi Director Socio Cultural Empowerment Directorate General Community and Regional Empowerment Department of Internal Affairs Telephone: 0816822412/021 - 7990419 Email: [email protected] |
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LAO PDR | Bounthom Phengdy Head of Health and Nutrition Promotion Division Department of Hygiene and Prevention Ministry of Health Vientiane Telephone: (856) 21 416787; (856) 20 5618246 Facsimile: (856) 21 214010 Email: [email protected] |
Sithath Outhaithany IE Team Leader Secretariat, National School Health Task Force Deputy Chief Primary Education Division Department of General Education Ministry of Education Telephone: (856) 250946, Mobile: (856-20) 5819799 Facsimile: (856) 250946 Email: [email protected] |
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NEPAL | Indira Sharma Professor Foods and Nutrition Head, Central Dept of Home Science Padma Kanya Multiple Campus, (TU) Bagbazar, Kathmandu Telephone: (977 1) 4225209 Facsimile: (977 1) 434907 Email: [email protected] [email protected] (R) |
Indra Bahadur Shrestha Programme Director Food for Education Project Ministry of Education and Sports Naxal Katmandu Telephone: (977 1) 4431895/4431853 Facsimile: (977 1) 4430650 Email: [email protected] |
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PHILIPPINES | Maria Antonia G. Tuazon Director Regional Training Programme on Food and Nutrition Planning and Institute of Human Nutrition and Food College of Human Ecology University of the Philippines Los Banos U.P. Los Banos, College Laguna 4031 Telephone: (63-49) 5362364/5362918 Facsimile: (63-49)-5362445 Email: [email protected] [email protected] |
Magdalene Portia T. Cariaga Nutritionist-Dietitian II Department of Education DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue Pasig City Manila Telephone: (+632) 632-13-61 ext. 2092 Facsimile: (+632) 633 7245 Email: [email protected] [email protected] |
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SRI LANKA | Chandrani L. Piyasena Head Nutrition Department Medical Research Institute P.O. Box 527 Colombo 00800 Telephone: (94-11) 2695999 Facsimile: (94-11) 2691495 Email: [email protected] |
M.P.H.Silva Deputy Director of Education (Nutrition) Provincial Department of Education Green Path Colombo – 07. Telephone: 00 94 11 2690478 Facsimile: 00 94 11 2693894 Email: [email protected] |
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THAILAND | Pattanee Winichagoon Associate Professor Deputy Director for Academic Affairs Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University (INMU) Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, 73170 Telephone: (+66-2) (DL) 889-2168, 8002380 ext. 313 Facsimile: (+66-2) 441-9344 Email: [email protected] |
Nantaporn Viravathana Academic Adviser Office of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Projects, Chitralada Villa, Dusit Palace Bangkok 10303 Telephone: (+66-2) 282 6511, 281 3921 Facsimile: (+66-2) 281 3923 Email: [email protected] and |
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Assistant Professor Department of Biochemistry Phramongkutklao College of Medicine 315 Rajavithi Road Bangkok 10400 Telephone: (+66-2) 3547797, mobile (081) 8371500 Facsimile: (+66-2) 3547797 Email: [email protected] |
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Ladda Mo-suwan Associate Professor Department of Pediatrics Faculty of Medicine Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110 Telephone: (+66-2) 7445-1273 Facsimile: (+66-2) 7421-2900 E-mail: [email protected] |
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VIET NAM | Nguyen Cong Khan Director The National Institute of Nutrition 48 Tang Bat Ho Hanoi Telephone: (84-4) 9716058, Facsimile: (84-4) 9717885 Email: [email protected] [email protected] |
SPECIAL INVITEE | Kraisid Tontisirin Senior Adviser Institute of Nutrition Mahidol University at Salaya Putthamonthon Nakorn Prathom 73170 Telephone: (+662) 9380621/5134112/5115151 Mobile: (+6687) 717-0621 Facsimile: (+662) 9383604 Email: [email protected] [email protected] |
WHO SEARO | Regretted |
WHO WPRO | Andrew Colin Bell Short Term Professional Noncommunicable Diseases WHO Western Pacific Region U.N. Avenue, Manila, Philippines 1000 Manila Telephone: (632) 5289860 (direct), 5288001 (general) Facsimile: (632) 5260279 Email: [email protected] |
UNICEF | Regretted |
UNESCO | Simon Baker Chief, HIV/AIDS Coordination and School Health Unit Principal Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (PROAP) Mom Luang Pin Malakul Contennial Building 920 Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoey, Prakanong Bangkok 10110 Telephone: (622) 3910577 Facsimile: (622) 3910866 Email: [email protected] |
OBSERVERS | Uraiporn Chittchang Asst. Professor Head of Community Nutrition Section Institute of Nutrition Mahidol University at Salaya Putthamonthon Nakorn Prathom 73170 Thailand Telephone: (+66-2) 8002380 ext.312/(DL) 8892168 Facsimile: (+66-2) 4419344 Email: [email protected] |
FAO ROME | Ellen Muehlhoff Senior Nutrition Officer Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division FAO Headquarters 00153 Rome Italy Telephone: Email: ellen,[email protected] |
Peter Glasauer Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division FAO Headquarters 00153 Rome Italy Telephone: (+3906) 57053775 Email: [email protected] |
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FAO RAP | Malcolm Hazelman Senior Extension, Education and Communication Officer FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Maliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Atit Road Bangkok 10200 Telephone: (+662) 6974145 Facsimile: (+662) 6974445 Email: [email protected] |
SECRETARIAT | Biplab K. Nandi Senior Food and Nutrition Officer FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Maliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Atit Road Bangkok 10200 Telephone: (+662) 6974143 Facsimile: (+66-2) 6974445 or 6974405 Email: [email protected] |
Peter Sousa Hoejskov APO – Food Quality and Safety FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Maliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Atit Road Bangkok 10200 Telephone: (+662) 6974198 Facsimile: (+66-2) 6974445 Email: [email protected] |
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Natcha Thearapati Secretary FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Maliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Atit Road Bangkok 10200 Telephone: (+66-2) 6974265 Facsimile: (+66-2) 6974445 or 6974405 Email: [email protected] |
Appendix II
delivered at the
Technical Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Network for
Food and Nutrition on School Based Nutrition
17 – 20 July 2007, Bangkok, Thailand
Distinguished participants,
Representatives from WHO and UNESCO
FAO colleagues from Headquarters and the regional office,
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is indeed a pleasure for me to address this important Technical Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Network for Food and Nutrition on School Based Nutrition. On behalf of FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf and on my own behalf, I welcome all of you to this meeting organized by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
There have been major changes in the nutrition scenario in the Asia- Pacific region. Although the region is still facing problems related to undernutrition and food insecurity, significant proportions of the people of the region are confronted with the double burden of malnutrition and diet-related chronic diseases. Obesity, diabetes, coronary heart diseases, hypertension and certain forms of cancers have indeed been recognized as main causes of premature death and disability not only in industrialized countries but also in many developing countries that are becoming more and more prone to such life-style and diet-related health problems.
FAO recognizes the important contribution that schools can make in countries’ efforts to overcome food insecurity and such types of malnutrition problems. To support these efforts, FAO in collaboration with other international organizations develops and promotes innovative strategies and materials that assist countries to plan and implement school based nutrition education. The organization of the present consultation is indeed timely and relevant in this context.
Schools are potentially excellent settings for nutrition education. Children consume at least one or two meals daily on school grounds. The school environment can strongly influence children’s eating behaviours, whether through the examples provided by teachers and other adults, the food served in the cafeteria and classroom, or through exposure to peer habits. Effective nutrition education helps shape these environmental factors and assists students in developing the skills needed to select healthy diets. Given that eating habits have a profound impact on health in childhood and adulthood, schools provide a logical venue for ensuring that nutrition education reaches all school-age children, and even beyond, to their family members. It has been recognized that nutrition education plays an important role in an overall strategy for improving children’s eating habits. A well-designed curriculum can focus on developing skills in food selection and preparation rather than just imparting information about the relationship between diet and health.
There is potential for the school meals programme to assume a more active role in nutrition education. It may be a good idea if schools consider taking steps toward including educational cafeteria programmes as well as classroom work in school nutrition education.
Because eating habits developed during childhood have the potential to last a lifetime, it is important for children to learn about the benefits of good nutrition. Education to establish healthy eating habits in life can assure that individuals have the information and skills they need to protect and enhance their own health and the health of their families. One can think of establishing “Team Nutrition” to help schools implement the School Meals Initiative. The mission of “Team Nutrition” could be to improve the health and education of young people by creating innovative public and private partnerships that promote food choices for a healthful diet through media, schools, families, and the community. “Team Nutrition” can work simultaneously through two initiatives which include training and technical assistance to school food service personnel, and nutrition education for children.
Another concept which has tremendous potential towards nutrition promotion is establishing School Gardens. School Gardens are powerful tools for improving child nutrition and education. They have the potential to improve food security and human nutrition at the household level through replication in the home. FAO encourages schools to create moderate-sized learning gardens, producing a variety of fruits and vegetables using simple techniques so that teachers and parents can easily manage the garden and students can apply gardening techniques in their home. Improving the nutritional value of school meals by supplementing them with food rich in micronutrients, fresh from the School Garden is one of many benefits that School Gardens can offer.
The goal of nutrition education is to motivate people to eat a healthy diet. Children are an important audience for nutrition education because a healthy diet is essential for their normal growth and development, and because children are establishing food patterns that carry into adulthood. Good nutrition promotes not only better physical health and reduced susceptibility to disease, but has also been demonstrated to contribute to cognitive development and academic success. Left to their own devices, children will not automatically select healthy foods. Their innate preference for sweet foods makes them particularly vulnerable to the highly sugared cereals, soda, and candy that are marketed to them virtually from birth. In order to develop lifelong healthy eating patterns, children need to be introduced to a variety of nutritious foods in a positive manner.
Distinguished Participants
Ladies and Gentleman
In collaboration with WHO and Education International, FAO co-published a document entitled Health Nutrition: An Essential Element of a Health-Promoting School. Implemented in southeastern China, FAO worked with WHO and the Education Development Centre to assist six pilot schools in developing nutrition education and services. The experiences gained in this project are described in two journal articles, namely Nutrition as an entry point for health promotion schools: lessons from China and Creating health-promoting schools in China with a focus on nutrition. In fact, the pilot projects proved to be so successful that the local governments have decided to expand the Health-Promoting Schools project into 50 additional schools in 11 cities across Zhejiang Province. A comprehensive Planning Guide to assist curriculum developers to plan nutrition education and activities that incorporate local nutrition issues and needs is forthcoming soon. A companion training manual will help prepare professionals to facilitate the curriculum planning and implementation process. Keeping this spirit in view, I suggest the meeting considers the following key action points during your discussions: (1) Compulsory Nutrition Education in the School Curriculum; (2) Inclusion of Comprehensive Nutrition Education Topics highlighting the relationship between diet and health; (3) Coordination of Nutrition Education at all national fora; (4) Providing more Resources for Nutrition Education; (5) Strengthening School Meals Programme; and (6) Introducing School Garden Programme.
I am pleased to share with you that two recently concluded projects in Bangladesh and Lao PDR have demonstrated that School Gardening amalgamated with nutrition education can be powerful tools for promoting horticulture and nutrition.
I am also happy to see that there are as many as 26 participants from 11 countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam). Besides there are colleagues from international organization like WHO and UNESCO. I am confident that a meeting like this will generate rich deliberations and I am looking forward to the outcomes of the meeting.
I now declare the Technical Meeting of Asia-Pacific Network for Food and Nutrition on School Based Nutrition”open.
I thank you all and wish you a pleasant stay in Bangkok.
Appendix III
Technical Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Network for
Food and Nutrition on School Based Nutrition
17 – 20 July 2007, Bangkok, Thailand
DAY 1: TUESDAY, 17 JULY 2007 |
0830 hrs Registration
Opening Session |
0900 - 0930 |
Welcome Remarks Biplab K. Nandi, Secretary, ANFN, and Senior Food and Nutrition Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), Bangkok |
Introduction of Participants | |
Opening Address ADG/RR, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific | |
Photo Session / Refreshment | |
1010 - 1040 |
Election of the Office Bearers Objectives, adoption of provisional agenda, timetable and organization of the Consultation |
Agenda Item 1: Global and regional trends in nutrition, health and education |
1040 – 1100 |
HIV/AIDS Coordination and School Health in Asia Simon Baker, Chief, HIV/AIDS Coordination and School Health Unit, UNESCO Principal Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (PROAP) |
1100 – 1130 |
Responding to trends in nutrition and health through schools in the Western Pacific Region Dr. Andrew Colin Bell, Technical Officer, Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO Western Pacific Region |
Agenda Item 2: Country Presentations on the nutrition situation of school age children and school based health and nutrition programmes (incl. nutrition education) |
1130 - 1230 |
Group work on the theme (4 groups; with country presentations) |
1230 - 1330 |
Lunch hosted by ADG/RR, FAO RAP |
1330 - 1430 |
Group work on the theme (contd.) |
1430 – 1445 |
Plenary presentation on the theme, Group 1 |
1445 – 1500 |
Plenary presentation on the theme, Group 2 |
1500 – 1515 |
Plenary presentation on the theme, Group 3 |
1515 – 1530 |
Plenary presentation on the theme, Group 4 |
1530 - 1600 |
Coffee break |
1600 – 1700 |
Questions and answers |
1700 - 1715 |
Summing up |
1715 - 1745 |
Meeting of the Drafting Committee |
DAY 2: WEDNESDAY, 18 JULY 2007 |
Agenda Item 3: Nutrition Education in Schools – FAO Approaches and Materials |
0830 - 0900 |
Main influences on children’s food and eating patterns in the region Brainstorming (in groups) |
0900 - 0930 |
Nutrition Education in Schools: FAO Approaches and Activities |
0930 - 1000 |
Nutrition Education in Primary Schools: A Planning Guide for Curriculum Development Peter Glasauer, Nutrition Officer, FAO Headquarters |
1000 - 1030 |
Coffee break |
1030 - 1100 |
Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative Ellen Muehlhoff, Senior Nutrition Officer, FAO Headquarters |
1100 - 1130 |
FAO’s approach and work in school gardening Biplab K. Nandi, Senior Food And Nutrition Officer, FAORAP |
1130 - 1200 |
Questions and Discussion |
1200 - 1300 |
Lunch |