Project Coordinator, DATT
The National Primary School Diabetes Quiz 2022 was hosted by the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago (DATT) and eleven (11) Rotary Clubs from across Trinidad and Tobago. The activity involved approximately 400 students enrolled in Standard three (3) across the country. Since schools were operating remotely, the quiz was initiated with the preliminary round through an online platform.
This platform allowed us to reach children from about two hundred (200) schools with a single link shared throughout the school districts, supporting organizations and on social media.
Children were able to access the resource materials and enter the quiz through this online platform at their convenience.
Adopting Healthy Habits
The aim of the quiz was to educate children, parents/guardians and teachers about diabetes, its causes, signs/symptoms, complications with a significant focus on prevention and wellness, through a fun and interactive format. The quiz facilitated this introduction of diabetes education through competition and gamification which ensured that children were motivated to learn about the disease.
“We encourage children (and their families) to adopt healthy habits through the programme surrounding the quiz. Children who eat healthily are more active and tend to flourish as they grow into healthy adults. Through health education funnelled through their children at school, families thrive as they achieve all-around wellness,” shared Andrew Dhanoo, President of DATT.
The stages of the quiz
After the preliminary round, the top forty-five (45) students were invited to the semi-final round which took the form of a written quiz held at the DATT Head Office in Chaguanas. The top fifteen (15) students were chosen for the final round which was held at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation on Saturday 21st May 2022.
The Final Day involved the top 15 students, with each student randomly selecting a question prepared based on the education materials provided in 3 new rounds, Easy-Medium-Hard. The judges determined the accuracy of each answer.
The judges were:
-Dr. Brian Cockburn
-Dr. Safeeya Mohammed
-Mrs. Odessa Vincent-Brown
The excitement was amplified as we introduced elements of chances and hints. Incorrect answers unfortunately meant students were eliminated until the only person left was the student that answered the most number of questions correctly. This student was crowned the winner!!!
The excitement unfolded
At the end of an exciting ninety (90) minute final round, 9-year-old Dylan Clifford of Holy Faith Prep- St. Bernadette’s School emerged the winner as he correctly answered the question, “What is the name of the diabetic eye condition that is characterized by peripheral vision loss?”. With much confidence he was able to give the correct answer “glaucoma”, allowing him to win the competition ahead of the first runner up Xavier Telesford of St. Xavier’s Private School.
The children were then treated to a magic show by Julio the Magician who was able to break the tension and wow the audience with his illusions.
The Award Ceremony
The award ceremony then followed with greetings from the President of the DATT, Mr. Andrew Dhanoo who announced the expansion of the quiz across the Caribbean. Supported by collaborative efforts of the Rotary Clubs within the District 7030 and Diabetes Member Associations in the North American and Caribbean Region of the International Diabetes Federation, this can be achieved. Mrs. Maria Mohammed-Maraj, the Assistant District Governor for East Trinidad, representing the eleven (11) participating Rotary Clubs, delivered her address to cement the Rotary Clubs commitment towards increasing diabetes education and reduction of childhood obesity. This was followed by remarks from Rajiv Diptee, President of the Supermarket Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SATT), with many of their members including S&S Persad Supermarket, Xtra Foods, The Price Club and Persad’s ‘D’ Food King sponsoring various aspects of the quiz.
The Minister of Health, the Hon. Terrence Deyalsingh then took to the stage and invited children and their parents to join him. His pertinent message was to increase daily physical activity in a measurable format, increasing your steps. He encouraged the audience to download a pedometer app to track this.
With all entrants being awarded certificates of participation and all semi-finalists and finalists winning medals, hampers and other prizes, we are grateful to our sponsors and partners for their support.
The winners of
the quiz were:
1st place - Dylan Clifford from Holy Faith
Prep- St. Bernadette’s School
1st runner up- Xavier Telesford from
St. Xavier’s Private School
2nd runner up - Kate Lee Young from Holy Faith Prep- St. Bernadette’s School