Hughes

As rising world food prices affect Jamaicans more and more daily, researchers and education officials are expressing worry over the plight of children.

Speaking recently at the launch of the Social Investment for Children Initiative, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Director General Dr Wesley Hughes pointed out that children were being hardest hit by rising food prices.

Recent data from the PIOJ's 'Survey of Living Conditions 2006' show that 4.6 per cent of children in Jamaica are undernourished, 3.6 per cent of them under five years old. Most of them live in the Corporate Area.

Similarly, poor nutrition practices, as a consequence of rising food prices, are also causing obesity, Hughes contended. Five per cent of children are overweight, with the majority of them again living in the Corporate Area. They were mostly between the ages of two-four years old.

"Food crops such as corn and wheat are being diverted to produce ethanol and other biofuels. These crops are the raw material for staples such as cornmeal and flour and for poultry, which are sources of protein," said Hughes. "As more grains get diverted to fuel production, there is less and less for human consumption," he added.

Lifestyle diseases

Poor nutrition leaves children vulnerable to nutritional diseases such as Kwashiorkor - a protein deficiency - and other forms of malnourishment. On the other hand, poor nutrition can also lead to the early development of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, but it might also lead to, local research shows, behavioural problems and delinquency.

School is one of the places in Jamaica where children can expect to receive a nutritious meal at least once per day, but it appears some schools are having problems with their feeding programmes due to the rise in food prices.

The Government provides a cooked meal for children once per day through the National School-Feeding Programme, but it appears in the last few months, some schools have been experiencing difficulty operating the programme.

Director of the National School-Feeding Programme, Helen Robertson, says while she has not received formal reports from any of the schools, it is likely that they are being affected.

"In light of the fact that the world, and indeed the nation, is reeling under increased food prices, it would follow that schools would be encountering challenges with their programmes," she says.

Yvonne Mathison, principal of the Constitution Hill Primary and Junior High School in St Andrew, says while they are coping, they are fearful they will soon have to increase the prices of the lunches that the school sells. She says the school is paying more for food and it will not be able to absorb the increases much longer. Likewise, she says the allocation from Government for the school-feeding programme will have to be increased.

Valerie Burchenson, principal of the Dallas Primary and Junior High School also in St Andrew, says the quantity of lunch provided under the school-feeding programme is less than it was a few months ago.

"By September, we will have to see an increase in the allocation to the programme," she says.

It is not clear if the Government will be increasing its allocation to the programme.

"The allocation for the current financial year has already been made and it is not possible to say that schools can expect increased allocations or that the coverage will increase," Robertson informed The Sunday Gleaner.