Summary:
The Uganda School Health Policy aims to improve school children's health, in part through stronger school feeding programmes.
Description:
The Uganda School Health Policy sets goals to improve health among school children, staff, and families. It designates school children as community change agents for good health practices (Section 3).
For FULL purposes, the policy addresses physical education, nutrition, water supply, sanitation, and health services. It directs government to enact laws that support implementation (Section 5.9 ). In addition, the policy documents existing problems on school environments, such as inadequate playgrounds and irregular meals.
The policy highlights nutrition standards for meals, which include three meals containing proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins. It also establishes a micronutrient provision in these meals. Moreover, both day and boarding schools must run school feeding programmes that stay nutritious, well prepared, and hygienic. Regarding unhealthy foods, it guides schools to remove fine sugars and unhygienic food vendors. Lastly, the policy brings the importance on nutrition education, that schools mus provide together with demonstration gardens.