Nutrition awareness for children via Nestle scheme
View(s):The Nestle Healthy Kids Programme is a global initiative by Nestle to raise awareness of the importance of good nutrition and an active lifestyle among school-age children around the world, launched in 2009 and by 2012 has reached 5.4 million children all over the world.
This programme was incorporated into the Government’s island wide Nutrition for a Healthy Life, nutrition awareness operating in schools.
At the media conference to announce this amalgamation held in Colombo last week Ganesan Ampalavanar, Managing Director, Nestle Lanka PLC said that their key focus is nutrition and as the world’s leading nutrition provider, they believed the future of the people lies in a healthy diet and active lifestyle without under nutrition or over-nutrition.
On the sidelines of the media conference the Business Times told Mr. Ampalavanar that there is a belief among the people that milk and milk related products may contribute to certain diseases like heart failure, obesity stroke and diabetes and also certain medical practitioners advice not to take such suspected foods, and asked for his response.
He said that food is not the only culprit. To be healthy, physical activity and active lifestyle should be followed and on the part of Nestle in all their products they are reducing sugar and salt, while ensuring that their products come with real taste. He said that they constantly assess and make progress to ensure nutritional values, quality and food safety.
During the media briefing. Mr Ampalavanar said that making awareness and education are powerful tools to ensure that children understand the value of nutrition and physical activity to their health in their lives. He said that their programme aims to improve children’s knowledge, attitudes and behavior by educating them about nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
This programme is taught in schools as an extra curricular subject focusing primarily on rural schools. It aims to reach 2,000 children annually while by end 2012 it had reached close to 6,000 children in 34 schools.
Duminda Dissanayake, Minister of Education Services who was the Chief Guest at the event said nutrition understanding and a healthy lifestyle are vital elements in battling the double burden of under-nutrition and over-nutrition and in Sri Lanka this is prevalent in children. (QP)
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