Sensitize 15000 children to reduce salt in India

 Project Update on Salt Literacy Program

 We are happy to share with you that our campaign on reducing salt intake in diet was held in 8 government schools of Chandigarh comprised of various awareness as well as brainstorming and interactive activities on the issue of appropriate salt consumption. With this initiative, we have seen positive changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour related to salt intake amongst school children. There was raised awareness among ~ 4800 school children and they could sensitize their families on the harmful effects of excess salt by delivering key messages on salt reduction while cooking and discretionary salt use at the table. The session with children were synergetic and covered health issues associated with excess dietary sodium intake. Children who participated in the classroom activities enjoyed poster competition, discussions on healthy food and story-telling through theatre.

There were some useful learnings, which have incorporated in our intervention and the project will be rolled out in other 16 government and government aided schools at Chandigarh in January, 2018, whereby sensitizing ~ 15000 children from 6th, 7th and 8th class. The activities will include spreading awareness about “How to reduce salt in food”; maintain record of salt intake and change their attitudes and behaviour related to salt intake.

 Your support has led us to step up our efforts to equip children with the knowledge on the dietary sources of sodium in food and promote consumption of healthy foods with a low sodium and high potassium and influence the dietary habits of the children and their parents.  The expected outcomes of these activities would be 60% increase in the knowledge about ill effects of excess sodium intake on health; 45% change in the dietary patterns of the school children- from high salt/packaged foods to low salt diet and 20% reduction in the use of salt in cooking practices followed at home.

As always, we look forward to your continued support for the project and help prevent children from developing chronic conditions later in life.