By: Aminata Sesay
The Freetown City Council (FCC) has launched a School Sodium Reduction Policy Project aimed at promoting healthier eating habits among schoolchildren and reducing excessive salt consumption in schools and surrounding communities.
The initiative targets pupils, school authorities, parents, food vendors and community members as part of efforts to encourage healthier dietary practices from an early age.
Deputy Mayor of Freetown, His Worship Kweku Lisk Esq., said protecting the health and wellbeing of children was essential to the city’s development.
“The health of our children is paramount in our society. Today, this step taken by FCC and residents is part of Transform Freetown, transforming lives,” he said.
The project will initially be implemented in six pilot schools and their surrounding communities across Freetown’s East, Central and West areas, with awareness activities expected to take place in the coming weeks.
The campaign seeks to improve understanding of sodium consumption and its potential health effects, while encouraging schools, families and food vendors to adopt healthier ways of preparing and serving food.
Excessive sodium intake often associated with high salt consumption and some processed foods, can increase the risk of health problems. The council is therefore promoting prevention by encouraging children and the adults around them to make informed food choices.
The initiative also targets parents and communities because children’s eating habits are influenced by the food available at home, in schools and from vendors operating around school environments.
FCC said reducing sodium consumption requires a shared effort involving schools, families, government institutions, health organizations and development partners.
The project is supported by Parene Healthcare, the Directorate of Non-Communicable Diseases, the Directorate of Food and Nutrition of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other stakeholders.
The council said the initiative forms part of its wider efforts under the Transform Freetown agenda to improve the wellbeing of residents through practical interventions.
As implementation gets underway, FCC is expected to continue engaging schools, pupils, parents, food vendors and communities to ensure that lessons on healthier food choices extend beyond the classroom and become part of everyday life.
The initiative ultimately seeks to increase awareness of healthy eating among children and their families while contributing to a healthier population in Freetown.