Promoting Education Programmes For Healthier Lifestyles In Central And West Africa, CSV In Action

Schoolboy Otniel Djedje (pictured third from left in blue) is now learning about healthy lifestyles after we launched the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme in Côte d’Ivoire.

Eight-year-old Otniel is one of 82,000 children across Central and West Africa who are taking part in our programme that aims to enhance healthy eating, good hygiene and physical activity.

These classroom-based lessons are helping to teach African children about the importance of nutritious, adequate diet and to get them active. Understanding the benefits of healthy lifestyles and improved hygiene also helps Otniel and his classmates adopt good habits from an early age.

According to the Population Reference Bureau unhealthy diets and physical inactivity contribute to about 12 million deaths worldwide, which are related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as stroke, cancer and diabetes.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, NCDs are on the rise and represent an increasingly significant cause of death and disability among African people. Diets in some African countries lack diversity, resulting in meals that often include a limited range of food groups. High salt levels in Africans’ diets, which increase blood pressure, are also common as salt is used to preserve foods and add taste.

Through education programmes such as the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme, we aim to influence healthy behaviours from an early age. We are working with Ministries of Education and Health, NGOs, academic bodies, nutrition health institutes and sports federations to help children, their families and teachers understand more about healthy eating habits and hydration, increased physical activity and good hygiene.

We’ve also launched the programme in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal.

Read more about what we’re doing to enhance healthy lifestyles.

#DidYouKnow: We aim to impact 100,000 children in Central and West Africa through the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme by 2018.

Sustainable Development Goal: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (Goal 3).