The Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will on Friday, 9 October 2009, visit the Onverwacht Primary School in Motsweding District, to officially mark the commencement of the National Nutrition Week (NNW).
More than half of South Africa’s children under the age of nine are deficient in Vitamin A, with more than one in ten being iron deficient. This affects their growth, development and school performance. According to the national food consumption survey 2005, ten percent of South African children under nine are overweight and four percent are obese. This co-existence of both under-nutrition and over-nutrition, places a double burden of disease on the country.
The Department of Health and Department of Education, in conjunction with key partners (see below) have chosen the theme of healthy eating for children, targeting primary school children for this year’s national Nutrition and Obesity Weeks between 9 and 19 October. The chosen theme forms part of the larger health department’s, healthy lifestyle campaign.
The event of Friday follows a hot on the heels after the highly successful Child Health Week which ran between 7 and 11 September 2009. The campaign’s target was to reach three million children countrywide.
The South African youth risk behaviour survey of 2002 found that 37,5 percent of youth do not participate in physical activity, whilst 25 percent watch television/play computer games for three hours or more per day providing insight as to why obesity is increasing amongst South African children. Exercise is vital to ensure that the body remains strong and healthier for longer and children should be encouraged to participate in at least 30 minutes activity on most days of the week, or at least 10 minutes three times a day.
Partners in NNW: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 5-a-day for Better Health Trust, Consumer Education Project of Milk South Africa, Association for Dietetics in South Africa, Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, Food and Trees for Africa, Nutrition Society, Diabetes South Africa and the Consumer Goods Council.
Issued by: Department of Health
8 October 2009
