Africa-Press – Seychelles. The Ministry of Health has made a major breakthrough in its promise to make Prevention a key aspect of its health mission, by sending out a strong ‘eat more plants’ message.
It comes just over a year after it published its new Food-based Dietary guidelines to try and stem the alarming rate of obesity and chronic diseases in the country.
Health Minister Peggy Vidot led a cohort of some 70 health workers across all cadres to a special vegetarian lunch to listen to a presentation by the ministry’s principal nutrionistStephanie Desnousse on the benefits of a mostly plant-based diet.
And to make an even stronger statement of intent, the lunch was also a thank-you gesture to the staff for their efforts in the Covid-19 battle.
For over eight months now the ministry’s Nutrition Unit has been running a soft campaign called ‘Eat for our Health’, urging the public to adopt better eating and lifestyle habits through messages derived from the Dietary Guidelines.
Meanwhile we heard the word ‘Prevention’ echo not only by the hierarchy of the Health Ministry and the Health Care Agency, but also the Minister for Finance while presenting the 2022 Health budget in the general assembly.
Even Public Health Commissioner Dr Jude Gedeon exhorted the public to eat well for a better immune system, during one of his Covid briefings.
Indeed on the health ministry’s own website where the Dietary Guidelines are posted, special mention is made of the benefitsof plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, lentils, beans, whole grains, as well as nuts and seeds. However warning lights are flashed on processed meats, sugar and sugary snacks and drinks, and over-consumption of red meats.
The ‘Eat for our Health’ campaign supports this further by advising the public to ensure that half of their food plate is made up of vegetables, salads and fruits; one-quarter of proteins such as fish,chicken, eggs, lentils and beans, and one quarter of starches especially local tubers (Gro Manze), breadfruits and plantains. This means that about three quarters of their plate should be plant-based.
Showing that ‘charity begins at home’, the Nutrition Unit used the event to hand out a questionnaireamong the staff to gauge their own eating and lifestyle habits, particularlywithregard to plants as well as exercise.
Nutritionist Stephanie Desnousse said she was delighted with the response to the event, which was sponsored by Nayopi Vegetarian Restaurant in Providence.
She said: “This event was a major step forward in the ministry’s commitment to its Prevention strategy by encouraging better eating habits.
“The minister was encouraged that we had taken this important step towards supporting our ‘Eat for our Health’ campaign message, and suggested that we now take the presentation and message to the rest of the staff of the Ministry of Health.
“We now have to maintain the momentum and roll it out to the rest of Seychelles.”
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