<<Print>>

Nestl� Healthy Kids is a global programme, which aims to raise awareness about nutrition, health and wellness and promote physical activities among pupils around the world through better eating, healthy hydration and greater physical activity. It was introduced in Ghana in partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the University of Ghana�s Nutrition and Food Science Department since 2011. Nestl� is the first company in the country to introduce a nutrition education program at basic school levels. The University of Ghana�s Nutrition and Food Science Department which is playing a major role in the program has released the results of the first monitoring and assessment for the Nestl� Healthy Kids Programme in Ghana to the executives at the Monitoring and Evaluation Dissemination Workshop in Accra. Briefing the press, Dr. Gloria Otoo, from the Nutrition and Food Science Department of the University of Ghana, opined that, �the results establish that the programme is effective in improving the overall nutrition knowledge and practice of beneficiary pupils.� However, in a speech read on behalf of Moataz El Hout, Managing Director of Nestl� Ghana, Aaron Fenu, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, is certain that Nestle Ghana will continue to develop new ways to measure the effectiveness of the programme. �Over time, we want to develop it into an evidence-based, impactful initiative that contributes to the health of local school communities�. He added that, �long-term success will depend on the ability of the education system to reintroduce nutrition education and physical activity in participating schools,� he said. In Ghana, the programme started in cocoa growing districts of Juaboso and Agona East in the Western and Central Regions but now includes Savelugu-Nanton, Kwahu North, Afram Plains and Adansi South/North, in the Northern, Eastern and Ashanti Regions respectively. In the Central and Western Region, Nestl� Healthy Kids children were able to correctly identify more food groups (19.2%) and food nutrients (34.2%) than non-Healthy Kids ones (7.8% and. 3.4% respectively). The report recommends that the programme develops a parent component in order to enhance behavior change of pupils since the role of parents in the diets of children cannot be over-emphasized.