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Nestlé Senegal launches “Healthy Kids” programme with Ministry of Education

Nestlé Senegal commits to promote healthy diets and encourage physical activity through the launch of the Nestlé Healthy Kids programme, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. The signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the company and the Ministry is taking place today. 

 

A lack of physical activity and bad dietary habits in youngsters may lead to obesity. To help tackle these prevalent problems, Nestlé launched its Healthy Kids Global Programme aimed at children aged six to twelve in 2009. 

This programme teaches school children about healthy diets and active lifestyles, in partnership with appropriate stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Education.

In Senegal, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies among preschoolers and school children are still national public health preoccupations and have a negative impact on school performance. 

In its pilot phase, the Healthy Kids programme will focus on five schools in Grand Yoff, Thiaroye / Diamagueune and Sandiara. A total of 500 schoolchildren between 9 and 12 years old will benefit from it. 

The expected results include an improvement in nutrition knowledge and an increase in fruit and vegetables consumption among the participating kids, as well as the regular practice of a physical activity. The programme also includes a hygiene education component. It is anticipated that the children will put in practice the hygienic measures they learn in class. 

At the end of 2013, Nestlé was actively working with more than 280 partners in 68 countries, and reached more than 6.9 million children in that year alone. It is the company’s aim to further expand the initiative to reach 80 countries by 2015. 

In Central and West Africa, the programme is already running in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon. 

The official launch of the programme in Senegal will take place during the new school year.