First Lady Fazna Ahmed has stated that the whole government and society need to collaborate on promoting nutrition and healthy lifestyles among Maldivians. She made the remarks while speaking at the opening of the Roundtable consultation on nutrition and healthy lifestyle at Meerumaa Hall in Male' City.
The round table was coordinated by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), the Ministry of Education, the National Health Protection Agency (NHPA), and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). It is the second nutrition national round table consultation focusing on addressing overweight and obesity among children, adolescents and women in the country.
The objectives of the discussion included identifying and discussing trends, patterns, levels and drivers of malnutrition, introducing Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles flagship initiative called Kaigen Hingamaa, and establishing a collective impact platform to mobilise champions for nutrition.
Speaking at the round table discussion, First Lady Fazna shared insights from her previous involvement in the education sector. She highlighted three initiatives implemented at Thaajudheen School to promote healthy lifestyles among students. She said it included a weekly exercise programme aimed at the entire school, a four-year programme called the Milk and Exercise Programme held for a select group of students, and a programme encouraging the students to make healthy dietary choices. She also noted that the latter is still ongoing in the school and it is expected that students continue a healthy lifestyle after graduating.
Additionally, First Lady Fazna underscored the significance of prioritising mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, alongside maintaining a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. She called on each individual to undertake at least one action, stressing the potential collective influence on a global scale. In her closing remarks, she invoked Pericles, stating that the legacy individuals leave behind is not etched in stone monuments but interwoven into the lives of others.