By Chidimma Oparaochaekwe
The Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, LIMH, has intensified efforts to promote healthy eating among children and food vendors through a community nutrition outreach organised as part of activities marking World Food Day 2026.
The outreach, organised by the hospital’s Nutrition and Dietetics Department in collaboration with its Marketing and Outreach Committee, was held at Holy Cross Catholic School, Lagos Island, to educate children on healthy food choices and the importance of proper nutrition for growth and development.
With the theme, “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow,” the programme focused on raising awareness about the importance of balanced diets, particularly the consumption of iron-rich foods, fruits and vegetables to prevent malnutrition and support children’s overall health.
Speaking at the programme, Dietitian Maryam Kadri engaged the children through interactive songs and nutrition education, using child-friendly activities to explain the benefits of healthy eating and encourage them to develop good dietary habits from an early age.
She stressed the importance of making nutritious foods part of children’s daily meals, noting that adequate nutrition was essential for healthy growth and development.
“Children need to understand the importance of eating healthy foods from an early age. Encouraging them to eat iron-rich foods, fruits and vegetables can help prevent nutritional deficiencies and support their overall wellbeing.”
The outreach also targeted food vendors who provide meals and snacks to schoolchildren. Dietitian Nut Adio educated the vendors on the need to offer healthier food options, particularly iron-rich foods, while reducing the sale of highly sugary and processed foods that may contribute to poor dietary habits.
Adio emphasised that food vendors had an important role to play in shaping children’s eating habits and supporting efforts to improve nutrition in schools and communities.
“Providing healthier food options for children is an important step towards improving their nutrition. Food vendors can contribute by offering more nutritious meals and reducing the availability of highly sugary and processed foods.”
The programme attracted participants from 18 schools, with over 220 pupils, 40 teachers and 18 food vendors attended in two batches. As part of the outreach, each child received a boiled egg, Golden Morn cereal and a sachet of yoghurt to encourage the consumption of nutritious foods.
The outreach forms part of the hospital’s commitment to preventive health education and community engagement, particularly in promoting healthy lifestyles and addressing nutritional challenges among children.
The initiative also highlights the importance of collaboration among healthcare professionals, schools, parents and food vendors in creating an environment that encourages children to make healthier food choices.
The hospital reaffirmed the importance of sustained nutrition education in building healthier communities, noting that investing in children’s nutrition today would contribute to better health outcomes in the future.
