Pre-conference: European public health: collaboration, initiatives and new policies
Wednesday 28 November, 09:00 - 13:30 and 12:30 - 17:00
Organised by:
European Public Health Association (EUPHA)
Afternoon Sessions 12:30 - 15:30
EU School Scheme and Health in All Policies: health promotion potentials at national and EU level
Organiser: National Institute of Public Health and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Slovenia
Download the programme/abstract here
Programme
12:30 - 13:00 Network Lunch Buffet
13:30 - 15:00 EU School Scheme and Health in All Policies: health promotion potentials at national and EU level
Organiser: National Institute of Public Health and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Slovenia
Chair persons:
Tanja Polak Benkič, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Slovenia
Vida Fajdiga Turk, National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
Increased intake of fruits and vegetables can improve quality of the diet and seems to have the impact on lowering BMI together with decreased consumption of high fat and high sugar foods. For growing children, a balanced diet with recommended intake of fruit and vegetables ensures optimal growth and development, improves overall well-being and productivity and, in the long term, promotes good health and contributes to active and healthy ageing.
The European Union’s School Fruit, Vegetables and Milk Scheme or School Scheme (previously EU School Fruit Scheme and School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme) is the measure under the Common Agricultural Policy with an explicit public health goal, with European funds allocated for the purchase and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to schools. School Scheme implementation started in 2009 and Slovenia joined in the first wave, involving more than 90% of Slovene primary schools.
Because it involves access to schools, the sourcing and distribution of fruit and vegetables and public health aims, the EU School Scheme involves three sectors which do not always work closely together: agriculture, education and health. The base for success of School Scheme is the system of providing healthy, nutritionally substantial school meals in Slovenia. All schools in Slovenia are mandatorily enrolled in the School Meals Program, which is regulated by the School Meals Act. School meals are also an integral part of school curriculum. As such, the EU SFS is a new and mainstreamed example of the Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach, with potential lessons for other HiAP initiatives.
The objectives of the preconference is to raise awareness of public health professionals of the potentials of the School Scheme and of the importance of multidisciplinary competences and multi-sectoral actions. The preconference highlights the HiAP elements, important for successful implementation of intersectoral policies.
Presentations:
EU School Scheme, a trigger for establishment of substantially improved inter-sectoral collaboration
Tanja Polak Benkič, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Slovenia
Alenka Pavlovec, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Slovenia
Katja Povhe Jemec, Ministry of Health, Slovenia
Mojca Gabrijelčič Blenkuš, National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
Vida Fajdiga Turk, National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
HiAP dimension of the multi-sectoral cooperation in the implementation of the EU School Scheme
Mojca Gabrijelčič Blenkuš, National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
Linden Farrrer, EuroHealthNet
Yoline Kuipers, EuroHealthNet
Tina Lesnik, National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
EU School Scheme, lowering inequalities gap among school children from different SE strata
Mojca Gabrijelčič Blenkuš, National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
Marcel Kralj, National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
Registration fee
The registration fee for the full preconference (3 sessions) is € 70, which includes networking lunch and refreshments. For delegates from Slovenia the fee is € 20 (lunch and refreshments included).