ATIABS Observes “Fruit Day” as Part of Nutrition Friendly School Initiative

 Pupils showcasing their fruits 

Attakwaa T. I. Ahmadiyya Basic School (ATIABS) in the Ekumfi District of the Central Region has observed its inaugural “Fruit Day” on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. The event marked the school’s recent inclusion in the Nutrition Friendly School Initiative (NFSI), a programme crafted to promote healthy eating habits, sanitation and physical activity within a safe schoo environment.

“Fruit Day” is part of the NFSI, a collaborative effort led by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Ghana Health Service (GHS) and Ghana Education Service (GES) with additional support from the Government of Norway. The initiative aims to cultivate healthy nutrition practices, enhance hygiene and sanitation, and encourage physical activities among pupils in participating schools across the country.

Mr. Eshun addressing pupils on "Fruit Day"

During the event, Mr. George Eshun, the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Coordinator for Attakwaa T. I. Ahmadiyya Basic School, outlined the various components of the NFSI that will be rolled out in the school. These include, Fruit and Vegetable Day, Health Inspection Day, General Cleaning of School Compounds, Physical Activity Day, Girls’ Iron and Folic Acid Tablet Supplementation, Nutrition Education and the SMART School Initiative. One of the innovative policies crafted by the school to dovetail into this initiative is the “Operation Plant a Fruit,” which seeks to encourage the cultivation of home-grown fruits. This initiative which is set to be rolled out on Thursday, October 17, 2014, is designed to boost pupils’ fruit consumption within a purely organic environment while alleviating the financial burden of purchasing fruits.

In his address to pupils and teachers, Mr. Eshun emphasised the numerous health benefits of eating fruits, including serving as a catalyst in digestion, promoting skin health, providing protection against cancer and other diseases and facilitating wound healing. He encouraged pupils to adopt the habit of eating fruits daily underscoring the importance of personal hygiene practices such as proper handwashing with soap under running water and washing fruits before consumption.

Mr. Eshun also urged teachers to foster a supportive environment for these practices and to promote the principles of the NFSI, ensuring the programme’s successful implementation in the school.

A section of teachers eating watermelon on fruit day

“The observation of “Fruit Day” will be regularly done to foster a culture of healthy living and eating balance meals among pupils of Attakwaa T. I. Ahmadiyya Basic School and participants of the Nutrition Friendly School Initiative”, he stressed.

By: Yusuf Ibrahim Dadzie