As part of efforts to catch children young to imbibe the habit of healthy living, the wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo has inaugurated the Healthy Living Ambassadors and Champions for public Primary Schools under the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB.
The champions were headteachers while the ambassadors were teachers who majored in Physical Health Education or related courses, who will lead the Healthy living clubs in select schools across the state.
Inaugurating the Teachers at the Utility Hall, ASUBEB Headquarters, Awka, Dr. Nonye Soludo said that the day is very significant as it marks the beginning of a renewed dream driven by immense passion, saying the volunteers were taking up the responsibility to serve humanity.
She explained that the teachers have been selected because they bear a mark of hard work and dedication, noting that Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo is a product of deep passion, aimed at achieving a culture of health consciousness and a mindset of change.
“The target is success and you must carry the vision in your hearts as we try to make this initiative a household movement
“Living right does not cost a fortune but simply requires simple health habits, sacrificing unhealthy habits.
“The central focus is to guide the students and pupils on the healthy living routine. Every school child must be fully involved in the movement,” she admonished.
She reminded the teachers that a lot of faith and trust has been put in them, encouraging them to take up the duty with great commitment, to groom the children in line with the standards set.
“We expect constant reports that will help us modify our activities and programs for greater impact.
“Healthy living is a crucial way of life. If you feed your body well, it gives you wellness. If you feed it badly, it will give you sickness.
“As ambassadors, you must know that whether we succeed or fail or fail in this initiative, is in your hands,” she said.
The governor’s wife also announced the launch of the Healthy Living Garden Competition, a termly challenge across all schools where the Healthy Living cluster is domiciled.
She explained; “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 Healthy Living Garden Competition is open for individual students and pupils, whose gardens must be located within their school premises.
“However, 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 calendar. Crop planting methods for the gardens must be purely organic – no chemical aids or synthetic soil improvers. Winners of the competition for both primary and secondary school categories will be announced at the end of each term. Rest assured that the rewards will match your efforts.”
Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Chairman of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Ass. Prof. Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi reminded the teachers that being Ambassadors requires leading inspiring and modeling lives for the younger people to emulate.
Reading out the terms of reference for the Ambassadors, the ASUBEB boss said, “You are expected to demonstrate good habits in areas such as nutrition, physical activity, mental wellbeing, and stress management.
“Engaging in open communication with club members and encouraging a supportive and inclusive environment are also critical aspects of your roles.
“The responsibility of an ambassador of the Healthy Living Club is to represent and advocate for healthy living practices and values within the club and the broader community.”
Asso. Prof. Nwadinobi commended the wife of the governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo for championing the initiative, saying that it is reflective of her genuine desire to start early to equip the children with life-long survival skills that will help them live healthy adult lives and contribute to the welfare and development of the society.
She charged the headteachers of the 21 LGEAs to give support to the Healthy Living Clubs in all our schools.
In his remarks, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike said through the Healthy Living initiative, the governor’s wife is grooming a generation of young people who are conscious of how they live their lives.
At the event, 330 fully-equipped first aid kits were distributed to the various schools whose teachers were selected as ambassadors.
According to Commissioner Obidike, the kits which are also part of the Healthy Living provisions, are to address health emergencies in the schools.
Drama by young scientists from Omagba Primary School One, Onitsha, as well as lectures on various aspects of Healthy Living including Personal Hygiene, Environmental Protection, and how to detect children indulging in drug abuse, among others, formed the high points of the event.
