GREAT BAY,– The Preventive Health Department along with representatives from the City of Amsterdam’s Public Health Service (GGD Amsterdam), will be introducing the “Jump In” program to a number of stakeholders this week.
The Dutch delegation comprising of Bertram Bouthoorn and Judith de Meij will sensitize and provide information to stakeholders about the Amsterdam Jump In program and its benefits.
Jump In is a program that has been designed to promote physical activity and prevent overweight among young children. The target group is four to 12-year-olds and their parents and has been used in Amsterdam since 2002.
The Executive Council approved the ‘School Nutrition & Physical Education Policy Plan,’ which has been developed to provide a structural and uniformed approach towards minimizing the factors that negatively influence a healthy lifestyle as it is related to nutrition and physical activity.
Overweight and obesity may soon cause a much preventable disease and death as cigarette smoking. It has been found that young persons need nutrition and physical education to help them develop lifelong eating patterns consistent with the basic dietary guidelines and the food pyramid. It has also been indicated that schools are ideal settings for nutrition and physical education.
The focus of the policy plan is on the youth, as results of data obtained indicate that the school going population of St. Maarten is at risk for health related consequences of being overweight. It has found that 16 per cent of those students screened of the past two school years are obese.
The presentations entail information sessions with school boards, principals, physical education teachers, government departments responsible for youth health care, educations & sports and several others.
The GGD Amsterdam representatives will also visit several public sports facilities, namely, L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium, Raoul Illidge Sports Complex, Little League Ball Park, and the Jose Lake Sr. and John Cooper Ball Park.
The development of the policy plan is a collaborative effort by the PHD, the Department of Education, the Department of Sports & Cultural Development along with the Department of Education Research Policy, Planning and Innovation (DERPPI).
The GGD Amsterdam visit is part of the agreement that was signed between the City of Amsterdam and the Island Territory of St. Maarten in 2007.
The objective of the agreement is to enhance bilateral cooperation in the exchange of know-how and experience in areas of mutual concern of both parties. One of the areas is public health which is Sector Public Health, Social Development & Labour is making use of with respect to the visit by GGD Amsterdam.
