Roger Harrison, Arab News - JEDDAH, 11 June 2007 — Tetra Pak Arabia, based in Jeddah, held a school nutrition conference in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health and Population in Yemen last week. The conference was attended by ministers, educators, NGO representatives and embassy officials together with the general public and the media.
Following Tetra Pak’s wide experience in school nutrition programs around the world, the aim was to bring like-minded experts and official bodies together to explore the possibility of implementing a nutrition program for Yemeni children.
“Our most valuable resource is our youth,” said Dr. Ahmad Makki who was representing Yemen’s minister of health. “Yemen can only benefit from any program, such as the World School Nutrition Program, that aims at laying strong and healthy foundations for our children to build on in the future.”
Amar Zahid, managing director, Tetra Pak Arabia, said that the company’s experience showed that the best way to promote sustainable, social and economic development was to work in partnership with governments, development agencies, NGOs and the private sector.
“This is a great opportunity for us to ensure the health and well-being of children in a real and meaningful way,” said Dr. Ali Al-Midhwahi, general director (family health), Ministry of Health, Yemen. “We are committed to this valuable project which will benefit everyone. Laying the foundations of good health is a privilege.”
Citing Saudi Arabia’s success in the implementation of school milk programs, Jesus Ortega, dairy category manager, said that the company had, through the Ministry of Education, celebrated “World School Milk Day” in all 42 educational regions across the Kingdom for three years.
“In 2006 alone, over 60,000 students nationwide took part in the school milk program and we look forward to working with the Yemeni government in laying healthy foundations for success in the future.”
Tetra Pak Arabia supports school nutrition programs around the world — in China, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Mexico, the Philippines and the GCC countries. The global company is able to draw in its database and experience in logistics and nutritional matters to assist in the development of local health programs and advise on the impact on children’s health and educational benefits of the early intake of a nutritious diet that includes milk and dairy products.
Tetra Pak International last year signed a cooperation agreement for three years with the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) to promote awareness on how individuals can take responsibility for their bone health by healthy eating, staying active, and being aware of risk factors for osteoporosis. The IOF identifies milk and other dairy foods as being among the richest and most readily available dietary sources of calcium which is an essential nutrient in building bones.