South Africa is experiencing a rising burden of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases as a consequence of nutritional and economic transition, increasing urbanisation and the associated lifestyle changes.Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are two of the main risk factors for overweight, high blood glucose, and blood pressure. Children are no exception to this rising trend in South Africa. Children acquiring the risk factors are likely to develop diabetes early as well as experience early onset of complications due to poor management of the disease. However, most of the children at risk of type 2 diabetes can be prevented from developing the disease through changes in lifestyle and nutrition. This requires proper information to the children, their parents, health care professionals and the community.The project seeks to create awareness about unhealthy lifestyles and its link to diabetes and other NCDs and promote healthy living in school children through information about healthy diet and physical activity.
Daveyton Environmental Youth Counsel is initiating this project in cooperation with Diabetes South Africa (DSA) and the Royal Danish Embassy. In association with the World Cup held in South Africa 2010, the focus on physical activities in school settings has increased. In the area Ekurhuleni where the project is being implemented the youth have a rather sedentary behaviour and limited knowledge on healthy living, which this project seeks to change.Before initiating the project, a baseline study will be conducted focusing on two issues; the quality of lunch practices in schools and the children's knowledge on healthy living and diabetes. By the end of the project, the same study will be conducted to evaluate the implementation.Shortly after, the project will be kick-started with a grand opening event for students, educators, youth out-of-school and others.The project is seeking to create awareness of diabetes and healthy living through three approaches; information on healthy diet, sports and community awareness.The first phase will encompass a four day workshop for food providers, educators and managers facilitated by a diabetes nurse educator from DSA. The workshop will train the participants in educating students in healthy diet and other ways to reduce the risk of diabetes. After the workshop they will conduct healthy lunch demonstrations for students at schools and distribute booklets in Zulu, Sotho and English. Education and awareness will increase knowledge on diabetes and the positive effect of healthy nutrition among the students.In addition to increased knowledge on healthy diet, an active lifestyle will be promoted through sport activities. Schools will organise one sport day each week for three months. Soccer leagues, fun walks and traditional games will be organised for the students and will all end up in a final sport event with numerous sport and diabetes awareness activities. By incorporating sport activities in school, the children are likely to continue an active living outside school settings.30 youth out-of-school will spread the messages of a healthy lifestyle in order to defeat diabetes in the community. Through a two day workshop conducted by DSA, they will gain knowledge about diabetes, risks associated with it, how to overcome it and how to plan and carry out awareness campaigns. The youth out-of-school will inform households about diabetes through a door-to-door campaign in areas close to the schools participating in the project. They will further raise awareness in nearby clinics. Hereby, information about diabetes and healthy living is not limited to schools, but also reaches out to parents, health care professionals and the community in general.
• 3500 learners and 13 food providers received education on healthy lifestyle • 3117 households were reached through door-to-door campaign on diabetes• 45 clinics were reached on diabetes awareness• 3633 people screened on diabetes