Nutrition
“Good nutrition is one of the keys to
good health.”
Food is energy for life. Food provides the essential materials that
we need to build, repair and maintain our body. The substances in
food that accomplish these functions are called nutrients.
There are two main category of nutrients, macronutrients
(including carbohydrates ,protein, and fats) which are the building
blocks of nutrition, and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) .
Malnutrition/Under-nutrition
• Malnutrition is the condition that occurs when your
body does not get enough nutrients. The cause being
inadequate or unbalanced diet. Which can be as a
result of a problem with digestion or absorption or
certain medical conditions.
• You may develop malnutrition if you lack a single
vitamin in the diet.
• Malnutrition is a significant problem all over the world,
especially among children, the poor, and with countries
that experience natural disasters.
• Grenada falls within this bracket.
Grenada: Country Profile
tulane.edu
• According to the Tulane report, In 1996,
Grenada Food and Nutrition Council launched
a project to monitor iron deficiency anemia.
Of the 626 children under 1 year old surveyed,
55 percent were found to be iron deficient,
and of the 2,667 4-5 year olds, 39 percent
were considered anemic.
Over-nutrition
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Excess calorie intake
Factor for all ages
Deficient in micronutrients
Risk factors – Alcohol abuse
Western Dietary pattern
Smokers
Inappropriate restricted diet
Drugs
Picture This !
• Chronic non-communicable nutrition- related
diseases are the main causes of disability, illness
and death in the Caribbean.
• 60 percent of deaths in the Caribbean are the
result of non-communicable diseases.
• Hypertension and diabetes rank #2 in leading
chronic disorders – main factors for other
diseases, cerebrovascular (stroke), and coronary
heart disease.
• Obesity, diabetes and hypertension are nutrition
related, preventable and manageable.
Picture This Grenada!!
Health in the Americas,2007
Vol11, Countries/Grenada
Leading cause of death, 2003-2005 – endocrine and metabolic diseases!
Under 5 years olds seen in public clinic – 3 percent underweight or overweight!
Those over 65 are considered older adults - primarily affected by chronic diseases such as diabetes,
hypertension, and coronary or cardiovascular diseases and their complications.!
In 2005 – it was estimated that 9% of the population was over 65 years, and this group is expected to
increase by more than 10% in the next decade !
Grenada Food and Nutrition Nutritional Assessment -2005
Underweight infants, 1.82%
Country Poverty Assessment: Grenada,
Carriacou and Petit Martinique
Volume 1 – Main Report 2007/08
• Chronic disease accounted for most of the reported
health problems among the population.
• Diet and lifestyle changes were responsible for the
increased incidence of chronic disease.
• 12.2 percent of males and 19.6 percent of females
reported suffering from chronic lifestyle diseases,
including hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cancers.
• 25.9 percent of those reported having a chronic
lifestyle disease, belonged to the highest quintile; 6.4
percent of chronic disease sufferers belong to the
poorest quintile.
What Do We Know ?
• Healthful diet changes bring desirable results. Studies have shown
that people who adjust their menu in hopes of reducing their
cholesterol, get the bonus of loosing unwanted weight. Their blood
pressure drift downward, are able to control diabetes and reduce
the need for medication.
• 2007/2008 remittances accounted for 30.7 percent of all income in
households in the lowest quintile and 12.0 percent of household
income overall.
• State funded School Feeding Program in Grenada services
Preschool/kindergarten children (68.1%),Primary school children
(81.6%), Secondary School children (35.4%).
• Pan-American Health Organization(PAHO) through the Caribbean
Food and Nutrition Institute and the Caribbean Program
Coordination, has been actively promoting good nutrition practices
in the Caribbean region.
• Nutritional management of obesity, diabetes
and hypertension has been selected as a first
step for which nutritional guidelines ought to
be established in the primary care system.
• Nutrition Management is more cost effective
than medication, morbidity, hospital stay, and
increases mortality.
Grenada Food and Nutrition Council
• The task of implementing the guidelines as set
forty by PAHO and CFNI is spearheaded by the
Grenada Food and Nutrition Council, formed
by the People’s Revolutionary Government in
July 1980 as a legal body.
• The mission of GFNC is “To promote the
nutritional well-being of all segments of the
population especially the susceptible groups –
women, children and the elderly.
GFNC
• The work of the Grenada Food and Nutrition
Council is divided into three main categories:
• 1. Nutrition Promotion
• 2. Community Nutrition
• 3. Surveillance
Education and Nutrition
• The Ministry of Education is responsible for ensuring the provision
of a nutritionally adequate meal to indigent children in the school
system.
• From 1989-1996 assistance was given by the World Food Program.
• The hope of the program was to feed 12,000 children by 1995,
giving priority to the students with single parent as head of
household and very needy cases.
• Today, the program is evident in 91 schools throughout Grenada,
Carriacou and Petit Martinique. 9,500 students are fed daily.
• Secondary Students who can afford pay $2.00 for their meal. Other
students who can afford pay $1.00 per meal, from which $ .25 is
returned to the program to assist with purchase and maintenance
of equipment.
Limitations of Nutrition Health
Programs
• Availability of Dieticians and Nutritionists
• Limited assistance from other members of
health care team to provide standard level of
basic nutritional care.
• Adequate monitoring and assessment of
nutrition services provided in public as well as
private settings.
• Limited resources and training.
Perceived Needs
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Implement CFNC Food Policy
Dieticians, Nutritionists, Health Coaches
Teaching Guides for school nutrition
Programs aimed at preventing, managing targeted
nutrition-related chronic disease at the primary care level
Training of school and community personnel to implement
programs
Funds for equipment, and maintenance
Organizations to adopt a school, and assist in funding
School Feeding Program
Assistance in recording and promoting programs that
encourage a healthy lifestyle.