Helen Keller International (HKL) in partnership with the Lagos State Government and funding from Mondelez International Foundation, has launched a multi-year $50million fund for the promotion of healthy lifestyle among pupils and their families in Lagos State.
Its Country Director, Philomena Orji announced the pledge at the Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle Project meeting in Lagos.
The meeting brought together major stakeholders from the Ministry of Education, Sport Commission, Ministry of Health, Lagos State Nutrition Officials, School teacher and managers, Parent Forums and Community Development Associations in Ikeja.
Orji said the project was aimed at bringing nutrition education, active play and fresh foods to undeserved children and their families in Ikeja, Lagos.
She noted that HKL work in nutrition focuses on promoting innovative and integrated solutions that have been proven to reduce malnutrition among women and children. One of such integrated solutions is the nutrition and healthy lifestyle project funded by Mondelez International Foundation for government primary schools and communities in Ikeja for a period of three years from last January to December 2020.
She said: “HKL will teach over 6000 children the importance of proper nutrition, physical activity and gardening through in-school and after-school activities and an estimated indirect 48, 000 children and their families over the next three years across the community development areas.
“The project will focus on six to 12 year-olds attending nine primary schools in Agidingbi, Estate, St Peters, Oke-Ira, Ogba, TokunboAlli, Ojodu, 1, 2, 3 and will involve a multi-pronged approached of nutrition education, gardening based production of nutrient rich crops and active plays.”
Orji lamented that Nigerians suffer from high levels of food security and malnutrition, including deficiency and poor child growth.
Orji said: “The rate of stunting or chronic malnutrition is 37 percent, resulting in lifelong cognitive and physical defects. Under nutrition remains a major health problem among Nigerians school children while overweight and obesity are emerging problems in urban areas.”
She said a recent study showed prevalence rates of stunting and wasting of 17, and 14 percent, among primary school pupils in Ikeja, as well as 15 and 13 percent overweight and obese. A study of 200 primary school children in Lagos revealed 38 percent were suffering from anemia.
She added that while physical education is a subject taught in primary school, there had been a systematic decline in its implementation over the past decades. Also, physical education and sport facilities and equipment are inadequate in most schools.
She quoted Mondelez International Foundation President, Sarah Delea as saying that making a positive impact on the people and the planet was at the core of their programme.
‘’Since 2012, our partners and their programmes have been transforming the lives of more than a million children around the globe by increasing their nutrition knowledge, physical activity and access to fresh fruits and vegetables,’’ she said.
She noted that the new programme would further build on our commitment to help communities thrive and improve the well-being of school-age children and their families.