Mexico City, Mexico – Mexico's heads of the Public Education Secretariat (SEP) and Health Secretariat (SSA) met on Monday at the SEP-SALUD National Inter-sectorial Meeting to re-affirm their commitment to extending health education in primary schools.

"The face of Mexico is the face of the country’s children," said Health Secretary Salomon Chertorivski Woldenberg. "Children have to be loved and taken care of."

In 2008, the two secretariats began to collaborate, implementing various programs in primary schools to raise awareness about health issues. The federal agencies are currently working to rewrite textbooks so they include information about nutrition, obesity, and sex, among other topics.

Although both of the secretaries applauded their joint initiative, no information on the results of the meeting have been released publicly.

Mexico, well-known for its high diabetes and child obesity rates, faces a constant battle to get the country’s youth and future workforce into shape.

Since the North American Free Trade Agreement came into affect in 1984, US imports to the country have increased, especially sugary, processed and fatty foods. But Mexico’s problems are not just symptoms of trade agreements and economics.

In a 2009 report, the Organization for Economic Development and Co-operation wrote that Mexico needed to increase efficiency on health and education spending. In 2010, Mexico allocated a large portion of its budget for education, 15 percent, while OECD countries allocated about 9 percent of their budgets to education. But in that year, 96.7 percent of Mexico’s education budget went to paying salaries.

The SEP is currently pursuing its goal of getting potable water into 93% of primary schools. Education Secretary José Ángel Córdova Villalobos explained that 95% of schools have soft drinks delivered to school grounds through various private ventures, and he doesn’t see why bottled water cannot be brought to schools in the same way.

In related news, Chertorivski Woldenberg inaugurated the second National Health Week 2012, which will run until June 2, 2012. During the course of the week, 12 million vaccinations will be given out in various health stations around the country, the secretary said.