October 19, 2004
By Bafana Nzimande
THE simplest way to alleviate poverty and improve health is to encourage people living below the breadline to plant fruit and vegetables in their backyard gardens.
So says Nokuthula Hadebe, environmental health services projects coordinator for Region 10.
Hadebe was speaking at the conclusion of a week-long series of activities marking World Food Day - officially marked internationally on Saturday, 16 October.
Region 10's department of environmental health services erected an educational exhibition at the Baragwanath taxi rank on Saturday, joining the programme run by the province.
"We know many people are affected by disease and unemployment, but we are encouraging community members to start planting backyard food gardens, because that's the cheapest and simplest way of getting access to nutritional food substances that can boost their immune system," Hadebe said.
The outdoor exhibition attracted a few bystanders waiting for transport in the hot sun.
Those that took the time to browse through the exhibition received packets of free condoms and various educational pamphlets containing information on cancer and HIV, as well as on how to plant a vegetable garden.
"I hope a lot of people will take all this information seriously, because it's about time we take a stand against poverty and diseases that daily affect our community," said 23-year-old Pule Tsimong, one of the visitors.
According to Hadebe, the awareness campaign is part of an ongoing campaign to fight poverty and diseases within Region 10.
"The event was a success, as today we have managed to distribute more than 12 000 condoms," Hadebe, wearing a pink ribbon as part of Cancer Awareness Month, said.
"Over the past three days we also empowered 70 community members with food gardening skills."
Meanwhile, Region 3, which was chosen by Johannesburg Environmental Health Services as the City's main venue to host World Food Day celebrations, held a workshop aimed at educating child caregivers about good nutrition.
Some 350 caregivers attended the workshop at the Walter Sisulu Hall, Randburg on Saturday.
"We have established that a majority of childcare providers within Region 3, lack the fundamental knowledge surrounding the importance of a healthy balanced diet for kids, " said Region 3's environmental health officer, Fatima Shaik.
Children spend about 90 percent of the daytime in childcare facilities - many of which do not provide children with adequate nutritional meals. "That is why it is so important for childcare providers to be educated about the significance of a healthy balanced meal for kids."
"Poor nutrition and unhealthy eating habits are some of the main causes of heart disease and many other illnesses," Shaik said.
Faith Mphahlele of The Heart Foundation of South Africa was one of the prominent speakers. Other topics addressed included the nutritional challenges facing children and the legislative aspects of food preparation.
"When we think about food, we must think about nutrition, hence the reason why we chose to stage this workshop to commemorate World Food Day," said Shaik.
World Food Day, an international event that aims to build awareness about food shortages and poverty, commemorates the setting up of the Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1945 by the UN.
For the past 23 years, millions of people have celebrated this global event. This year's theme was "Biodiversity for food security".
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