The Ministry of Health, through its Health Sciences Education Division, this morning launched the Community Nutrition Technician Programme.
The six-month programme welcomed its first cohort of 20 students, who will undergo training across four key modules: Foundations in Nutrition and Health, Nutrition Knowledge and Applications, Food Science and Health Applications, and Practical Attachment and Field Training.
The initiative is designed to strengthen community-based nutrition services by equipping trainees with essential knowledge and practical skills.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony stressed the importance of proper nutrition in maintaining good health.
“In some studies they have shown that even if you have things like diabetes, that with the right type of diet you can actually reverse some of the changes that would have occurred in the body. So diet is a very important thing and that has been missing from the conversation,” he said.
Dr. Anthony encouraged the trainees to set an example by embracing healthy lifestyle habits so they can effectively share their knowledge and inspire positive results.
“So you have to be the embodiment of this new healthy kind of society that we are trying to talk about. And if you’re practicing it, then you’ll be more convincing. You’ll be able to persuade other people to do what you’re trying to get them to do,” the minister added.
The programme is a collaborative initiative between the Ministry’s Family and Primary Health Care Services, Food Policy Division, and the Chronic Disease Unit.
Also present at the launch were, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton, Director of Family and Primary Health Care Services; Dr. Chandrountie Persaud, Director of the Health Sciences Education Division; Dr. Latchmie Lall, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases; Ms. Gillian Trim, Director of Food Policy (ag); Mrs. Kim Bristol, Health Education Officer; and Ms. Georgel Abrams, Senior Health Education Officer.