Parents, Schools Urged to Tackle Unhealthy Diets Among Children

By Ritah Ainembabazi 

The Ministry of Education and Sports and nutrition partners are calling for greater emphasis on healthy feeding and physical activity among children and young people to address malnutrition, overweight and obesity.

The call was made on Wednesday during the climax of a three-day Sports for Health programme organized by Scaling Up Nutrition and Food Security for Youth, Adolescents and Children Civil Society Network (SUNFOYAC-CSN) and partners at Kitebi Primary School in Kampala held ahead of the National Youth Dialogue for Nutrition scheduled for the 15th and 16th of next month.

The programme brought together young people to participate in sports while also discussing healthy diets, physical activity, hygiene and factors contributing to malnutrition.

Gilbert Orikiriiza, an Education Officer in charge of Physical Education and Sports at the Ministry of Education and Sports, said children in urban and semi-urban areas are increasingly exposed to fast foods, which may contribute to health problems such as diabetes.

“As the ministry we have also noticed that in semi-urban and urban areas we have the highest prevalence of non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes. In the schools, most of the children are fed on fast foods and the parents also pack fast foods for children when they are going to school. But we need to have meals based on the natural foods that may not cause such kind of challenges,” said Orikiriiza

He added that the ministry is sensitising parents, schools and communities about healthy feeding, while also encouraging children to participate in physical activities. He said government schools are required to identify areas where children can play, including community playgrounds.

Sisi Kam, a Technical Advisor for Health at Plan International Uganda, said the programme is helping young people understand the link between nutrition and physical activity.

“The correlation between sports and nutrition is that when you want to have a young person who is healthy, you need to look at their diet, but also ensure that they are physically active. A good diet alone is not enough; they also have to be active,” said Kam

Kam said adolescents are often overlooked in nutrition interventions, despite being at a critical stage of physical development and lifestyle formation. She also pointed to concerns over overweight and obesity among school-going children, linked to unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.

Bernard Sembatya, the Country Director of SUNFOYAC-CSN Uganda, said the programme is deliberately targeting adolescents and young people, who he says are often missing from nutrition statistics.

“Initially, the statistics were talking about children under five. Then we came in and said, no, we are missing statistics on adolescents, girls and young people that are really facing challenges of malnutrition. So that is the gap we are bridging,” said Sembatya

He noted that seven schools have so far participated in the programme, with young people engaging in discussions about their feeding habits. He also cautioned parents against frequently giving children fast foods, sodas, chips and fried chicken, while encouraging healthier meals.

Sembatya said the programme also addresses hygiene, sanitation and climate change, which can affect food security through the destruction of household and community gardens.

The National Youth Dialogue for Nutrition is scheduled for the 15th and 16th of next month and will bring together young people and stakeholders to discuss nutrition issues and amplify young people’s voices in decisions affecting their health and wellbeing.