PUBH 8165 - 3: Environmental Health Name : Tom J. Oguta Student No : A00081583

1. PUBH 8165 - 3: Environmental Health Name : Tom J. Oguta Student No : A00081583 Application 7: Service learning Activity “Promoting a Sound Nutrition Environment in Nairobi Schools” Walden University July 31, 2009

2. Presentation Outline Target Audience Aim of the Presentation This presentation is organized to cover the following areas: Aspects of Nutrition Environment Statistics showing poor child nutrition situation in Kenya The meaning of a sound Nutrition Environment Why it is important to eat right Why the school environment is suitable for such intervention How to improve the school nutrition environment Recommendations for Action

3. Aspects of Nutrition Environment Environmental degradation and pollution can lead to major nutrition-related health problems such as: malnutrition, infectious disease; and contamination Malnutrition: Undernutrition Micronutrient Deficiency Disorder Overnutrition (especially Obesity) Diseases: Respiratory Diseases Gastrointestinal diseases Chronic and Nutritional Diseases Contamination: Biological contamination Inorganic chemical contamination Organic chemical contamination Source: Johns, T. & Eyzaguirre, P. (2002). Nutrition and the Environment. A foundation for Development. Environment Brief 5, January 2002. UN ACC/SCN. Obtained from: http://www.unscn.org/files/Publications/Briefs/Brief5_EN.pdf.

4. Nutrition Situation in Kenya Fig 1. Malnutrition Rates in Kenya Source: Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2003.

5. Fig 2. Underweight Children KIBHS 2005/6 Underweight • 21% 36% 64% 21% Other Prevalence of Underweight Causes of Mortality

6. What is a Sound Nutrition Environment? A sound school nutrition environment means a healthy physical and aesthetic surroundings and favorable psychological and social climate and culture of the school Thus it includes: The physical environment The psychological environment The social environment

7. Why is it important to eat right? People who do not eat right develop malnutrition Eating right helps the body resist sickness Eating right helps the sick get well Poor nutrition worsens a woman’s health during pregnancy Poor nutrition affects learning in children Source: WHO (2000). Nutrition for health and development: A global agenda for combating malnutrition. Progress report. Geneva, World Health Organization.

8. Why School Environment is a suitable place for intervention? Good nutrition strengthens the learning potential and well-being of children Schools have the right target (audience) There exists knowledge on how to improve health and well-being through school nutrition interventions Schools can provide nutrition interventions in ways that are highly cost-effective Education and healthy nutrition for girls has a positive impact on the health of families Healthy nutrition contributes to decreasing the risks of Chronic Degenerative Diseases Education and good nutrition strengthen the economy Source: WHO (2000). Nutrition for health and development: A global agenda for combating malnutrition. Progress report. Geneva, World Health Organization.

9. How Can we improve the School Nutrition Environment? Improving the school nutrition environment involves the promotion of: Nutrition Services Physical activity Health & Hygiene School Health Policy development and implementation Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1996). Guidelines for School Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy Eating. MMWR 1996;45 (No. RR-9). Obtained from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/nutguide.htm Government of Kenya (2008). Health and Nutrition KFSM Report. Obtained from http://www.kenyafoodsecurity.org/sectorworkinggroups/healthnutrition/nutrition_update_220508.pdf

10. Recommendation for Action The time to change our nutrition environment in schools is now Our schools need to initiate school meal programs that improve the nutrition environment The entire school community – students, teachers, parents and local leaders need to be involved Schools should provide sufficient space, time, equipment and culture for healthy growth Evaluation of schools should include both academic extracurricular activities Schools should be away from unfavorable neighborhoods Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2000). Changing the scene: Improving the school nutrition environment. Alexandria,VA: Author. From http://www.fns.usda.gov/TN/Resources/changing.html

11. List of Readings Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Neighborhood safety and the prevalence of physical inactivity -- selected states, 1996. MMWR. 1999; 48(7):143-146 Center for Science in the Public Interest (May 2004). School Vending Machine Dispensing Junk. CSPI Newsroom. Obtained from: http://www.cspinet.org/new/200405111.html Convention on Biodiversity (1992). From http://www.biodiv.org/chm/conv/default.htm. Eyzaguirre, P., S.Padulosi, S. & Hodgkin, T. (1999). IPGRI’s strategy for neglected and underutilized species and the human dimension of agrobiodiversity. Johnson, J. & Deshpande, C. (2000). “Health Education and Physical Education: Disciplines Preparing Students as Productive, Healthy Citizens for the Challenges of the 21st Century,” J SchHlth. 2000; 70:66-68. Morland K, Wing S, Diez Roux A (2002). The contextual effect of the local food environment on residents' diets: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study. American Journal of Public Health. 2002;92:1761-1767. Platt, A. E. (1996). Infecting ourselves: How environmental and social disruptions trigger disease. Washington, D.C. Worldwatch Institute. Tomkins, A. (2000). Malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality in children and their mothers. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 59 (1): 135–146. US Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Journey-To-Work Trends in the United States and its Major Metropolitan Areas 1960-1990 [online report]. National Transportation Library Web site. Available at: http://ntl.bts.gov/DOCS/473.html.