FAO Supports National Health Marathon in Karakalpakstan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has supported the National Health Marathon in the Republic of Karakalpakstan by organizing a training session for primary school students at the Youth Center in Nukus.

The event was held within the framework of the FAO project “Support to Improving Food Security and Nutrition through a Pilot School Feeding Programme” and aimed to develop children’s knowledge and habits of healthy and safe nutrition, as well as to raise awareness of the importance of a balanced diet and environmental care.

FAO’s national consultants on safe and healthy nutrition conducted interactive sessions for 3rd- and 4th-grade students. Through engaging games and activities, children learned about macro- and micronutrients, the importance of consuming seasonal foods, and how nutrition affects both human health and the environment.

The training program was based on the educational guide “How to Eat to Protect Your Health and the Environment”, developed by the Research Institute of Sanitation, Hygiene and Occupational Diseases of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan as part of the FAO project. The sessions also featured a colorful poster titled “Five Keys to Safer Food”, adapted for young learners to help them remember the main principles of food safety.

Before developing the training materials, FAO consultants carried out a pilot study on students’ knowledge levels in five schools of Zangiata District, Tashkent Region, to tailor the educational tools to the age and comprehension level of the children.

The training included short educational videos, quizzes, and interactive games. At the end of the session, children received small gifts. The trainers encouraged participants to make mindful food choices and care for their health, emphasizing:

“Healthy eating is strength, energy, and care for ourselves and our planet.”

The initiative forms part of FAO’s broader efforts to promote a culture of healthy living and to support the National Health Marathon, which aims to foster sustainable healthy eating habits among the younger generation.