A team from the World Food Programme (WFP) is conducting a technical mission in St Kitts and Nevis to evaluate school meals and nutrition programs. This comprehensive assessment aims to pinpoint gaps and opportunities for improving the effectiveness of these initiatives across the federation.
High-Level Meetings with Government Leaders
The WFP delegation met with the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, joined by Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley. Representatives from the Ministries of Health, Education, and Agriculture also attended. Discussions focused on the critical role of nutrition in education and the government’s ongoing support for school feeding programs.
During their visit, the team held introductory sessions with senior officials from the education ministry and related departments. These meetings allowed leaders to align partnership priorities, share insights, and define the scope of the technical assessment.
Key Insights from Officials
Latoya Matthew-Duncan, Nutrition Surveillance Officer in the Ministry of Health and focal point for the mission, highlighted its value. “The Technical Mission represents an important opportunity for the Federation to not only look at our national school meals programme from a much wider angle, but also to assist us with identifying gaps and challenges, as well as look at ways to adjust them. I think this mission is timely, as school nutrition in the Caribbean is a big deal. I think that it is a great vessel to look at nutrition interventions for St. Kitts and Nevis overall,” she stated.
Alessio Orgera, WFP Regional Adviser for School-based Programmes, described the mission as a targeted assessment. Stakeholders will receive a detailed report to inform future actions.
The Government of St Kitts and Nevis emphasizes child nutrition as a core element of its education agenda, viewing this mission as a vital step forward.
