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School heads to be educated on healthy foodstuffs: official

Dr Fawzia Al Jaziri, Director of School Health Department, Dubai at the Ministry of Health, said lack of proper knowledge on the right kind of foods for children led to availability of unhealthy foods on school premises.

Pointing to the lack of proper laws on the issue in all emirates, except Dubai, Dr Fawzia said it created a gap between the ‘rules’ and their strict implementation.

“The emirate of Dubai has formulated it’s own rules in cooperation with the Dubai Municipality. If schools do not adhere to these rules, they are penalised. This is what is still required in all the other Northern Emirates,” she explained.

She pointed out that the MoH’s role was to recommend to the Ministry of Education (MoE), the kind of foodstuffs to be made available in school canteens.

“The MoE is required to give a letter of regulations and conditions (after consultations with the MoH) to school heads pointing out the exact requirements for school canteens which should be followed. But complaints against food available in canteens can be lodged with the MoH though the MoE is required to take action,” she explained.

According to the MoH, healthy food should be stocked in canteens (no fizzy drinks, cheese, chips, burgers, i.e junk food is allowed) with proper refrigeration facilities. The ministry is also required to monitor school clinics.

“Samples of food are taken from the government school canteens randomly and occasionally to be checked for freshness. In case, there is a case of food poisoning, we need to have proof,” she said, stressing that laws needed to be tightened.

Dr Fawzia had conducted a study on school canteens in the UAE which she presented in the recently concluded Arab Children Health Congress.

• UAE