NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 26 – Unilever in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation have launched a national campaign that will focus attention on educating primary school children in Kenya on the importance of optimal nutrition.
Unilever has set aside Sh90 million for the campaign dubbed national Growth Challenge to impart parents and school going children with knowledge on the importance of eating a balanced diet and living active lifestyles, in order to achieve optimal nutrition.
The multinational is targeting over 100,000 children aged between 6 and 12 years in 400 primary schools countrywide whereby the children will be engaged in exciting height and weight collection exercise that will culminate in the "growing" the height of the children by 1000 metres within a period of 6 months-that is taller than the tallest building in the world.
In an interview with Capital news, Unilever Marketing Director Ms Margaret Mwaura said, the exercise will not only impart vital knowledge on optimal nutrition but also contribute to the Government\’s effort to improve the nutritional status of Kenyans and also conduct a survey on nutritional health status of children aged between six and twelve years.
Head of Nutrition department in the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation Ms Terry Wefwafwa, said the data will also provide a baseline on the nutritional status of school going children.
"This is the first time that the ministry will have such data on the nutritional status of school going children," said Wefwafwa. According to Wefwafwa although the ministry has data on the nutritional status of children under six years through the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, no survey has been carried out to determine the nutritional status of children above six years.
The Campaign will partner with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation as well as professionals in the nutrition and child health arena, to run this campaign, with the key message being to encourage mothers, and children to adopt a balanced diet, that will ensure optimum nutrition.
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