NS launches childhood obesity strategy
Posted Jun 7, 2012 01:28:39 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Dexter government has revealed its strategy to fight childhood obesity. It’s called “Thrive!”
It will cost $2 Million in the first year, but even the people who built it say it’s just a first step.
Some of the money will go toward more consultation with schools, municipalities and health facilities.
Premier Darrell Dexter says it will spread responsibility for the health of children beyond just the Department of Health and Wellness.
“The first multi-departmental across-government plan that seeks to bring in all of our partners, whether they’re in school boards or non-governmental organizations,” said Dexter. “Before you can do any of that other good work, you have to set some kind of a baseline. You have to bring people together.”
The government says key actions for the coming year include:
Key actions in 2012-13 include:
- consulting schools and school boards to determine what’s needed to provide 30 minutes of quality daily physical education, and developing a plan and budget
- designing new after-school programs to target junior high students living in rural and remote communities
- expanding the Municipal Physical Activity Leadership program in municipalities and Mi’kmaq communities
- increasing breast feeding through district health authorities by enhancing the use of best practice and clinical guidelines and a new grant program for community-based organizations
- providing new grants to community-based organizations that support breast feeding
- supporting baby-friendly designation at hospital and community health facilities
- developing a provincial active transportation policy and implementation plan
- increasing food knowledge and skills and working with partners to develop a provincial food literacy plan
- launching a new program to provide children, youth, and families with opportunities for free access to sport and recreation facilities
- supporting healthy food policy in public institutions, including regulated child care and public schools, and, with partners, expand into health-care facilities, sport and recreation settings, and universities and colleges
More information on the Thrive! plan are on the government web site http://thrive.novascotia.ca.
