AN NGO, Helen Keller International, has launched the healthy lifestyle programme aimed at bringing nutrition education, active play and fresh foods to an estimated 48,000 children and families in Ikeja Local Government Area, Lagos.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of the organization, Mrs Kathy Spahn, said on Wednesday that the programme was being executed in partnership with the Lagos State Government.

Spahn said the programme, funded by the Mondelez International Foundation was expected to run from January 2018 to December 2020.

She said it was part of the foundation’s multi-year 50 million dollars commitment to promote healthy lifestyle and address obesity, while promoting innovative and integrated solutions to reduce malnutrition.

“One of such integrated solutions is the Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle Project for government primary schools and communities in Ikeja Local Government Area.

“Over the next three years, the foundation will teach directly over 6,000 children the importance of proper nutrition, physical activity and gardening through in-school and after school activities.

“The programme will indirectly reach 48,000 children and their families; these programmes are to create school and community environments that encourage children and families to adopt lifelong healthy habits.

“Such a programme was introduced in Indonesia to improve the well-being of children and their families,’’ Spahn said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to herald the launch of the project.

She said: “We are proud to partner again with the Mondelez International Foundation to implement nutritious education and healthy lifestyle projects.

“We came together in Indonesia to improve the well-being of children and their families.

“We are excited to now bring our combined expertise to Nigeria to encourage and instill healthy habits in children from an early age,’’ she said.

Also, Ms Sarah Deleain, the President of Mondelez International Foundation, said that since 2012, the foundation had been transforming lives of over a million children around the globe through its partners.

“Making a positive impact on the people and the planet is at the core of who we are.

“Since 2012, our partners and their programmes have been transforming the lives of more than a million children globally by increasing their nutrition knowledge, physical activity and access to fresh fruits and vegetables,’’ she said.

NAN reports that the nine schools that are to benefit from inception include Agidingbi, Estate, St. Peter, Oke-Ira, Ogba, Tokunbo Alli and Okoduwa 1, 2 and 3.

NAN also reports that Mondelez International Foundation is the parent company of Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

– Apr. 11, 2018 @ 12:50 GMT |

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