INMED South Africa aims to fight against obesity and malnutrition by implementing school gardens, nutrition education, and healthy lifestyle training.
Health In Action
South Africa is currently facing a significant public health crisis due to the rise in obesity rates, while hunger and malnutrition continue to persist. To tackle this complex issue, the Health in Action program, which is focused on educating school children about the importance of nutrition, physical activity, and healthy lifestyles, has been launched. This program is being implemented in 116 schools across 13 communities in Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, with the support of the Mondelēz International Foundation, and it is estimated to reach over 100,000 primary school children.
One of the key components of the Health in Action program is the establishment of school gardens, which are being used as a teaching tool to educate students about the importance of fresh produce for school meals and healthy eating habits. These gardens are also providing fresh produce to the communities in many cases. INMED South Africa and its partners are providing the necessary garden materials and training to school food handlers, teachers, administrators, and community members.
Community Health
We have been at the forefront of using school- and community-based aquaponics in South Africa for over a decade. We aim to improve disadvantaged communities’ nutrition, health, and food security.
Through our Health in Action Programme, we have set up two community Aquaponics Centres. These centres provide consistent fresh food to schools and families in low-resource neighbourhoods.
Our Aquaponics Centre, situated in Soweto (next to the Elias Motswaledi health clinic), shares its produce with individuals in need. In addition, we regularly hold workshops on nutrition, low-fat cooking, and healthy lifestyles.
The Aquaponics Centre in Port Elizabeth is located at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Missionvale Campus. The system’s harvests supplement the feeding schemes of the university and disadvantaged schools in the surrounding communities.
Both centres also serve as research and training facilities for teachers, students, and the public.
Thanks to Air Products South Africa funding, we have installed three aquaponics systems at schools in Gauteng.
2ND ANNUAL HEALTH IN ACTION AWARDS
View INMED South Africa’s 2nd Annual Health in Action Awards. This event featured all the creative ways schools are implementing our Health in Action program with Mondelez International Foundation. The event was live-streamed on Facebook so that you can enjoy it too!
HEALTHY LIVING
INMED South Africas’ dietitians regularly perform cooking demonstrations, health education segments on local TV, and free community workshops. They also collaborate with the Department of Health and Education to train school food preparers.