committee focusing on spreading healthier messages to students.

Government announced this week it was setting up the Health for Success scheme which aims to tackle causes of ill health at classroom levels.

Health Minister Clarence Terceira and Education Minister Jerome Dill made the announcement in a joint statement.

It said: "Research has shown that schools can do more than any other single agency in society to help young people live healthier, longer, more satisfying and productive lives.

"Creating and implementing Health for Success in Bermuda's schools will improve the health of students and staff, the educational achievements of the students and ultimately the quality of life for everyone in Bermuda.'' Currently a Government committee bringing together health and education experts is examining ways to get a healther message across.

It is looking at classroom instruction, healthy food for students and the involvement of staff, students, parents and the community.

Issues to be tackled include obesity, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

"Promoting healthy lifestyles cannot be effectively accomplished in schools through the uncoordinated activities of individuals or organisations,'' added the two Ministers.

"Despite the best intentions work is often wastefully duplicated or, worse, falls through the cracks and doesn't get done at all.

"By working together we have the potential of achieving far more than we can working separately.

`Only through the coordinating activities of a hardworking and powerful interdepartmental committee, such as the one we have set up, can we be sure that our programme is well designed, well coordinated and working properly.'' HEALTH HTH