LASG, Foundation train school managers, others on improved nutrition, healthy lifestyle of pupils
By kunle Williams
Lagos LOGO
Helen Kelly International has partnered with Lagos State Government to train agricultural teachers, school managers among others, on ways to improve nutrition and healthy lifestyle among pupils aged 6 to 11 years.
The foundation also trained specific state and local government officers, school food vendors and engaged with the School Based Management Committee (SBMC), Parent Champions (PC) and representatives in Ikeja LGA.
The Country Director, Helen Kelly International, Mrs Philomena Orji made this known during the 2021 Harvest Fair for Schools and Communities at the Agidingbi Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the programme is: “Our Actions are Our Future”.
Orji explained that the foundation had trained both parents, teachers and community development officers on improved techniques for cultivating diverse micronutrients rich fruits and vegetables.
She added that the aimed of the training was to improve the production and consumption of the nutrients rich foods, adding that it had improved and established school gardens across the project schools.
Orji said the primary objective of the project was to reduce undernutrition and overweight among public primary school pupils in the nine public schools in Ikeja Local Government in the state.
She said the nine target schools in Ikeja were Agidingbi Primary School, Estate Primary School, Ogba Primary School, St Peters’ Primary School, Tokunbo Alli Primary School, Oke-Ira Primary School and Ojudu Primary Schools (1, 2 and 3).
The Country Director said since Jan. 1, 2018, Mondelez International Foundation had been funding Helen Keller International to support schools and communities to reach under-served children through innovative ways.
“The foundation will teach 6000 children the importance of proper nutrition physical activity and gardening through in-school activities.
“The programme target a direct 6000 children in public primary schools, and estimate indirect reach of about 4800 out-of-school children and their families across the Community Development Areas (CDCs) in the state.
“This program is geared towards creating school and community development that encourage children and families adopt lifelong healthy habits.
Orji said this programme was to ensure that the children received the right information on nutrition and health lifestyle both at school and at home.
She said the foundation had also partnered with the Lagos State Universal Basic Educational Board, Ikeja Local Government Education Authority and the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Budget.
The Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Mrs Belinda Odeneye, decried that malnutrition, in every form present significant threat to human health.
The Permanent Secretary, represented by Asst. Director, Office of Environmental Services, Mrs Aderemi Falaye, said people sometimes take health and nutrition for granted.
“Today, the world faces malnutrition that includes both malnutrition and overweight especially in low and middle income countries.
“World Health Organizations is also making advice that can help the countries address all forms of malnutrition to support health and well-being for all harvest of fruits and vegetables,” she said.
Odeneye commended the foundation in assisting the vulnerable and disadvantaged persons in both health and nutrition.
The Chairman, Community Development, Ikeja, Alhaji Oshinberu Sulukaleen, said the project had trained the people im Ikeja communities in ensuring they plant crops in their various homes to reduce famine in the state.
he said some schools had come up to join with the schools that were trained through the assistance of Project Champion, which were the community persons.
He said each community in Ikeja Local Government have been trained to embark on smart farming.
A pupil of Ojodu Primary School, Bola Adedayo, urged parents to cultivate the habit of giving their children fruits and vegetables in their meal.
Adedayo said vegetables makes the body looked younger, grow more stronger and gives them an healthy life.
Another pupil, Master Busari Isreal from Ojodu Primary School 1, said he had learnt how to plant and how to harvest them.
Isreal said the fruits that was planted were cucumber, water melon which gave them vitamin A, C and also help them to build their body system. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
