A yelp for H.E.L.P. : a review of the implementation of the H.E.L.P. Document in Maltese state primary schools

Abstract

Published and distributed back in 2007 with the aim of turning schools into healthy institutions, it is high time to carry out an investigative study about the level of implementation of the H.E.L.P. Document, and reveal its impact on the present nutrition status in schools. This research focuses on the H.E.L.P. Document in the Maltese state primary schools, the initial stage of education which can equip children with a health-conscious attitude from the start. Initiated by a plethora of questionnaires distributed to the administration of all the Maltese state primary schools, a general overview of the present status of H.E.L.P. in the primary education sector in Malta was examined. Also, a set of interviews with different stakeholders in the school community were conducted together with observations, in three different colleges (North, South and Central), to obtain a realistic more in-depth overview of the present nutrition education vis-à-vis the H.E.L.P., and outline regional differences. Particular emphasis was placed on the important role of parents in child nutrition and their valid participative role in H.E.L.P.-related policies and initiatives in schools. Research showed that a need for more parental involvement and collaboration with school initiatives. In response to this, a resource pack encompassing a set of knowledge-based and practical-oriented resources was created, serving as a means of reinforcement of the H.E.L.P. Document and increasing awareness and promotion on the importance of health and nutrition education, specifically targeting parents and the family setting.