A new auditor general’s report says the B.C. health and education ministries are not working together to effectively oversee healthy eating and physical activity in schools. Photo courtesy CBC.
The provincial auditor general says the ministries of health and education need to do more to oversee healthy eating and physical activity initiatives in schools.
Carol Bellringer’s report “Promoting Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in K-12″ says the ministries created programs to improve eating habits and activity for youth in the province.
But Bellringer says the ministries should do more to work together and communicate with other partners to oversee the strategies, such as the School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program.
The independent audit also says B.C.’s health authorities and school districts were not adequately informed about funding available for student meals.
The report says a lack of communication meant many districts did not prioritize the initiatives that could have an impact on students’ health and increase their risk of chronic illnesses.
The auditor general’s office says chronic disease affects one in three people and uses 80 per cent of the combined budgets of the medical service plan, PharmaCare and acute-care.
The report contains eight recommendations for the ministries to improve program management, including increasing access for vulnerable students, monitoring for effectiveness and ensuring the programs and policies can be easily implemented.
Andy Neal
