Belize City, April 18 2008 - The Ministries of Health and Education, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) hosted the National ADM Belize Mills Secondary Schools Nutrition Quiz Competition on April 11, 2008 at the Princess Hotel, Belize City.

At the opening ceremony, special remarks were delivered by Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education, who commended the excellent inter-sectoral initiative and healthy competition; Hon. Pablo Marin, Minister of Health highlighted the fact that the quiz is an excellent health promoting initiative that has the potential to help stem the increasing prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases; Mr. Phillip Milliken, General Manager, Belize Mills Limited spoke of the global crisis of rising food prices and its effects on the Belizean situation; and Dr. Beverley Barnett, PAHO/WHO Representative, who suggested that efforts be made to include other nutrition-related sectors in the competition, such as trade and agriculture.

Audience during the competition

Funded annually by ADM Belize Mills Limited, the competition is designed to increase students' knowledge of healthy nutrition and to improve the image of nutrition among students, while at the same time providing incentives through competition. The quiz is initiated at the district level, from which school winners rise to compete at the national level, representing their districts.

The national winner for this year's competition was San Pedro High School . The second place winner was Orange Walk Technical High School , followed by third place winner, Sacred Heart College from the Cayo District. Winners of the national competition will compete in the Regional Nutrition Quiz Competition organized by the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI), a PAHO specialized Centre for food and nutrition.

competitors

The Pan American Health Organization, which is the Regional Office of the World Health Organization, was founded in 1902, and works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples. The PAHO/WHO Country Office in Belize was established in the 1950s.