Authorities promote healthy and nutritious environments at schools statewide

With the purpose of promoting healthy habits in girls and boys, the Ministry of Education of the Government of the State of Yucatán (Segey), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Yucatán (SSY), the Autonomous University of Yucatán (UADY), and the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), inaugurated the Comprehensive Community Action Intervention project to raise awareness about the importance of having nutritious and healthy environments in school settings.

The “Eduardo Urzaiz Rodríguez” primary school was the venue for the start of these sessions, which will include lectures, workshops, recreational and physical activities focused on the prevention of chronic diseases at an early age. These activities will be aimed at school administrators, mothers, fathers, and fifth and sixth-grade students.

Representing the Secretary of Education, Liborio Vidal Aguilar, the Director of Educational Development and Regional Management, Leonel Escalante Aguilar, spoke about the importance of creating spaces to raise awareness about health in education to improve the academic performance of girls and boys.

Recognizing the initiative of government institutions in favor of health and the prevention of chronic diseases from an early age, he reaffirmed Segey’s commitment to promoting the well-being of students at the basic level.

As educational authorities, we have the challenge of strengthening and complementing education to ensure that girls and boys acquire better academic tools within the classroom, and a fundamental part of quality education is that children have school environments that are healthy and nutritious, added Escalante Aguilar.

Javier Troconis Cervera, Coordinator of Nutrition, Food, and School Consumption Environments, shared that through this inter-institutional initiative, students will be able to develop healthier eating habits and greater awareness of the consequences of chronic diseases at an early age.

At the end of his participation, he invited parents to follow the recommendations for providing proper nutrition and promoting physical activities as a family.

Thanking Segey for its support of the project, Teresa Shamah Levy, Director of the Research and Surveys Center at INSP, reaffirmed the commitment of the institution she represents to promoting healthy environments and proper nutrition in school communities.

She highlighted that the choice of the “Eduardo Urzaiz Rodríguez” school to implement the INCAI initiative was based on a previous diagnosis that included measurements of weight and height, glucose levels, eating patterns, and socio-emotional skills assessments.

This collaboration between local and federal institutions arises in response to the results of these tests with the aim of contributing to the health of children and adolescents, Shamh Levy expressed.

As part of the launch of the INCAI program, a health fair was held in which girls, boys, mothers, and fathers participated. The fair was divided into three stations where attendees enjoyed activities related to nutrition, socio-emotional skills, and physical activity, with 15-minute sessions at each station.

Witnessing this event were the director of the “Eduardo Urzaiz Rodríguez” Primary School, Felipe Massa Peniche; the State Director of Nutrition and Chronic Diseases of the Yucatán Health Services, Ileana Fajardo Niquete; the Coordinator of the Nutrition Degree at the Autonomous University of Yucatán, Lida Moreno Macías; representing the school supervision, Lizbeth de María Carrillo; and the head of sector 02, Carlos Castro Sansores.

TYT Newsroom