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Department of Health pushes for healthier lifestyles

A neon dragon swooped tothe beat of Chinese drums, powered by more than a dozen youngsters from Taipei County's Gengliao Elementary School.

"When they get to junior high, they'll get to do the dragon dance on roller skates," said Wang Yao-te (王耀德), sports director of the school.

Wang said that dragon dancing is a physically demanding activity and a great way to motivate students to get fit.

Wang's school, along with 516 others, are part of a NT$60 million (US$1.8 million) a year program encouraging schools to promote students' health cosponsored by the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education and the Bureau of Health Promotion.

Wang Hsiu-hung ( 王秀紅), deputy head of the DOH, said that Taiwan took its cue from the WHO's Global School Health Initiative.

"Although we are not a part of the WHO, Taiwan pays close attention to international health trends," she said. "When it comes to investing in the health of our young people, we want to be in step with the world."

The program has grown quickly since its inception in 2004, when only 38 schools participated.

Though schools have a certain amount of control over what they do, one aspect of the program is not optional.

"Cigarette and betel-nut prevention must start early," said Wang Hsiu-hung. "We lead the world in oral cancer and cigarette-related health issues are estimated to account for NT$30 billion to NT$40 billion of the NHI's overall budget of NT$400 billion."

Taipei County's Shenkeng Elementary School was honored during a ceremony yesterday for its effort in encouraging better nutrition.

Like all Taipei County schools with more than 40 classes and their own kitchen serving lunch, Shenkeng elementary has a staff nutritionist "who went above and beyond" regular duties to ensure good nutrition for the students, principal Lin Chien-tsung (林建棕) said.

Lin is promoting education on nutrition so that, even when not in school, students will know what foods are good for them.
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