Cook Islands school students learn about healthy lifestyles

Transcript

Since 2012, Cook Islands school students have been involved in a programme that teaches them about healthy lifestyles in an effort to combat the country's non-communicable disease crisis.

The Cook Islands have some of the worst statistics for NCDs in the world, with about 74 percent of deaths being attributed to them.

As part of a project by the University of Auckland's Liggins Institute, masters students have paired with Cook Islands authorities to research the effectiveness of the programmes.

One of those students, Mayor (May - or) Pokino, is comparing students' health data from before and after the programme to determine its effect on their behaviour regarding NCDs.

She told Jamie Tahana she was inspired to do so after working at the Cook Islands health ministry last year.