It is with great pleasure that I am attending today this press conference on one of the most important health issues of our country. Childhood obesity is, according to the Cyprus Health Profile for 2021, published by the European Health Observatory in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the most important public health problem for Cyprus in childhood.
In 2018, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, following an announcement by the World Health Organization on the high levels of childhood obesity in Cyprus, had instructed the Ministers of Health and Education to tackle the problem comprehensively and achieve a reduction in these alarming rates. With the immediate appointment of a Ministry of Health Nutrition Coordinator by the Council of Ministers, actions have been intensified to the maximum.
Cyprus has been participating in the COSI Childhood Obesity Surveillance Programme for the past 10 years. The most recent results provided by the World Health Organization, based on an analysis of the latest 2020 measurements, put the levels of childhood obesity in children aged 6-9 years in Cyprus at 43.6% with overweight at 14%.
The Nutrition Sector in collaboration with the Ministry of Education in the framework of the 6th round of COSI 2022, continues the measurements in order to continue the diagnosis of the problem, which due to the pandemic may worsen.
The Ministry's actions, in addition to the classic Healthy Lunch programmes, Mediterranean Meals, fruit and vegetable distribution, which you are all familiar with, have been extended to many interactive programmes and actions aimed at ensuring the health of every citizen.
I make particular reference to the interactive programme "Be a Health Ambassador" , which has been in operation since last year and is aimed at primary school children. Last December 2021 the programme was carried out online due to a pandemic with the participation of children from 75 schools. Three more online workshops are planned until May to cover more schools.
In addition, today we are announcing the online game that will be available through a mobile app where children are encouraged to learn to eat 5 fruits and vegetables every day, while the Nutrition sector is also targeting a number of other intervention programmes aimed at reducing childhood obesity.
In addition, today we are announcing the online game that will be available through a mobile app where children are encouraged to learn to eat 5 fruits and vegetables every day, while the Nutrition sector is also targeting a number of other intervention programmes aimed at reducing childhood obesity.
I would also like to announce the creation and institutionalization of the Quality of Life Committee of the Ministry of Health, which deals with all issues related to the quality of human life.
The Aristotle programme, following the COSI programme and the obesity data platform implemented by the Ministry of Health in primary schools, will enable us to ascertain the physical fitness of children and create a data platform on the levels of physical activity of our children and raise awareness in this area.
We hope that all these actions will contribute to having health-conscious children who will become tomorrow's health-conscious adults. It is the best investment we can offer to our place.
Thank you.
(NΓ/IK)
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