Health Officials Identify 32 Diabetes Cases among 26,197 Screened Pupils

A nationwide school health offensive is underway to tackle a “major concern” in rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among the youth, with early screenings identifying hundreds of cases of pre-diabetes and hypertension.

The School Health Programme (SHP), which launched its latest phase in January 2026 at Mohun Parsad Sharma Jugdambi SSS, is currently being rolled out across secondary institutions including London College, Darwin College, and Loreto College Mahebourg.

The initiative, set to conclude in mid-September, aims to reach approximately 30,000 students annually across 180 public and private schools.

Alarming Diagnostic Figures

Data from the previous year underscores the urgency of the intervention. Out of 26,197 students screened in Grades 7, 9, and 12:

• 32 cases of diabetes were identified.
• 501 cases of pre-diabetes were detected.
• 3,523 students were classified as obese.
• 217 students were found to have hypertension.

Dr Davina Soobrayen Jhugroo, a Senior Medical and Health Officer, warned that the rise of NCDs among the young is a primary focus.

“Early screening helps prevent the development of more serious pathologies, such as diabetes,” she stated, noting that schools provide an “ideal platform” to reach citizens during their formative years.

The “Double Burden” of Nutrition

The programme comes against a backdrop of worrying nutritional trends. Surveys spanning from 1987 to 2021 show a persistent increase in obesity and sedentary lifestyles.

2022 data revealed a 13.8% obesity rate in children and 9.0% in adolescents, while 7.4% of those aged 12–19 recorded high cholesterol.

Mauritius also faces a “double burden,” where high rates of overweight and obesity coexist with underweight issues, which affected 17.1% of adolescents in 2012.

A Comprehensive Shield

The SHP, a joint venture between the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Education, employs “Health Caravans” to provide systematic screening.

Services include:

• Clinical Checks: BMI calculations, blood pressure monitoring, and blood tests for high-risk students.
• Specialist Referrals: Diabetics are sent to hospital paediatricians, while obese students are referred to nutritionists.
• Preventative Education: Talks on nutrition, mental health, and the dangers of tobacco and alcohol.

Strict regulations support these clinical efforts; the sale of unhealthy snacks in canteens has been banned since 2010, with the list of authorised healthy foods expanded in 2024.

Primary Prevention

The strategy extends to younger cohorts, with Public Health Nursing Officers (PHNOs) overseeing screenings for over 53,000 pre-primary and primary pupils in 2025.

This included visual screenings and vital immunisations. Last year, over 7,000 students were vaccinated against HPV, while thousands more received protection against DTaP-IPV and Tdap.

By identifying risks early, Dr Jhugroo believes the programme is “laying the foundations for a healthier and better-informed future generation,” turning students into “ambassadors” for healthy living within their own families.

Source: Le Mauricien