Anambra First Lady Inaugurates Healthy Living Clubs In Primary Schools

The wife of Anambra State governor and founder of the non-governmental crusade, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative,Mrs Nonye Soludo has inaugurated healthy living clubs in over 325 public,mission and private primary schools in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

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Anambra first lady at the headquarters of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) in Awka, the state capital, also inaugurated headteachers as Healthy Living Champions,and teachers who specialised in Physical and Health Education were equally inaugurated as ambassadors who will lead the Healthy living clubs in the schools across the state.

Speaking at the occasion,Mrs Soludo affirmed that Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo is a product of deep passion.

“What we want to achieve is a culture of health consciousness. A mindset of change. Being conscious of one’s body is the first step to achieving the right health. I describe it as being selfish with your body. Living right does not cost a fortune. It is all about simple and deliberate habits that define one’s approach to a healthy life. It begins with what you eat and how you take care of your body. I prefer to use the slogan: “You are what you eat.” The bottom line is that if you do not understand what goes into your mouth, your body will not.”

“Therefore, our central focus is to guide the students and pupils on the routines for healthy, sound, and happy lives. We want to build an army of healthy living enthusiasts. Every school child in Anambra State must be fully involved in this movement.

Noting that Healthy living is a very conscious practice and a crucial way of life, she said, “You must make up your mind to sacrifice certain unhealthy habits that do not go well with your body formula. You must understand that to live healthy is to live happy.

“That is the ideology we want to instil in the minds of our these pupils. Healthy living with Nonye Soludo is designed to give every child a platform to succeed. Each club member carries an identity of difference. That is why we insist that one of the requirements for being a club member is cleanliness. Members of the club must stick to its foundational norms, always.

Soludo’s wife who further stated that Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative is a well-defined social ideology that offers opportunities for inclusion and participation, officially announced the introduction of Healthy Living Garden Competition as the newest school challenge.

“This competition originates from our goal to give both primary school pupils and secondary school students who are members of our school clubs an avenue to appreciate agriculture, self-sufficiency and hard work.”

The first lady disclosed that the Healthy Living Garden Competition will be a termly challenge across all the schools where the clubs are currently domiciled.

She added that the challenge is open for individual students and pupils, whose gardens must be located within their school premises.

“However, students and pupils who go the extra mile to have similar gardens in their homes, with proofs of ownership, will be rewarded. Crops to be planted in the gardens must have the capacity to mature within a termly calender. Crop planting methods for the gardens must be purely organic – no chemical aids or synthetic soil improver.”

Mrs Soludo added that winners of the competition for both primary and secondary school categories will be announced and rewarded at the end of each term.

On his part, the state commissioner for health, Dr Afam Obidike appreciated Mrs Soludo for prioritizing the good health and wellbeing of students and teenagers in the state. He assured the first lady of his ministry’s absolute support in the healthy living campaign.

Earlier in her address, the Executive Chairman, ASUBEB, Assoc. Prof. Vera Nwadinobi, described the primary school as the fundamental stage in the life of every human being.

“If we catch them young with respect to healthy living, then the society will be full of healthy adults and youths who are ready to contribute to the welfare and development of the society and Anambra State in particular.

Nwadinobi added that the responsibility of an Ambassador of a Healthy Living Club is to represent and advocate for healthy living practices and values within the club and the broader community.

She called for collaboration with school staff, including teachers, counselors, and administrators, to integrate health and wellness initiatives into the school
curriculum.

The presentation of fully kitted first aid kits to all the ambassadors of over 325 schools by Mrs Soludo, climaxed the event.