Introduction to the “Vive Saludable, Vive Feliz” Strategy
Under the “Vive Saludable, Vive Feliz” (Live Healthy, Live Happy) strategy, spearheaded by Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, 11.2 million students from 86,000 public primary schools across the country will form the healthiest generation in Mexico’s history, according to Secretary of Public Education (SEP), Mario Delgado Carrillo.
Health Assessments and Progress
The health initiative will continue throughout the 2025-2026 school year, focusing on evaluating students’ weight and height, dental health, and visual acuity. As of now, over 7.9 million students have been assessed in more than 64,000 public primary schools. Before the winter break, the number of students evaluated is expected to reach 8 million across these schools.
States Completing Health Assessments
- Aguascalientes: 138,472 students
- Chiapas: 766,234 students
- Morelos: 151,405 students
- Puebla: 620,904 students
- Tlaxcala: 126,427 students
- Veracruz: 706,406 students
Delgado Carrillo mentioned that Colima will complete its health assessments by January, having evaluated 63,492 primary school students.
Health Concerns by State
According to the data collected from these health assessments, Campeche and Quintana Roo have the highest percentages of students with overweight or obesity, at 50%. Yucatán follows with 48%, Baja California with 46%, the Federal District with 45%, Baja California Sur with 44%, Sonora with 43%, and Hidalgo with 41%.
Regarding dental health, Campeche leads with 84% of students having caries, followed by Guerrero (82%), Tlaxcala (78%), Puebla (75%), Colima and Morelos (74%), and Yucatán (73%).
For visual acuity issues, the states with the highest percentages are the Federal District (58%), Veracruz (56%), Durango (53%), Morelos (51%), the State of Mexico (49%), Hidalgo and Yucatán (48%), and Tlaxcala (44%).
Communication with Parents and Next Steps
SEP has already established the Digital Health Record for each student, and over 7 million reports have been sent to parents and families, raising awareness about the importance of following recommendations and seeking necessary care at clinics.
Delgado Carrillo encourages families to visit clinics during the winter break, including those provided by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), IMSS Bienestar, the Institute of Security and Social Services of State Workers (ISSSTE), and local health centers. Additionally, optometry clinics and optical shops will offer free evaluations and lenses if needed.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the “Vive Saludable, Vive Feliz” strategy? It’s a health initiative led by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, targeting 11.2 million students in Mexico’s public primary schools to create the healthiest generation.
- What aspects are being evaluated? The program assesses students’ weight and height, dental health, and visual acuity.
- Which states have completed their health assessments? Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz have completed evaluations for their primary school students.
- What are the main health concerns by state? Obesity and overweight rates are highest in Campeche and Quintana Roo, while caries and visual acuity issues vary across different states.
- What actions should parents take? Parents are encouraged to visit clinics for necessary care and free evaluations, especially during school breaks.
