Mexico: Health counselling centre
Nutrition and health counselling for disadvantaged populations
Nutrition and health are intrinsically linked, and among disadvantaged populations both malnutrition and obesity represent increasingly important social and health issues. Families are at the heart of food culture and so it is important to work with them and provide nutritional education and counselling so they can pass this knowledge on to their children.
The Centro Comunitario Santa Fe (CCSF), on the outskirts of Mexico City, conducts social programmes aimed at the local population in marginalised zones.
We decided to fund one of its key projects: build and develop a nutrition and health centre with the objective of providing comprehensive services for the detection and treatment of malnutrition and chronic-degenerative diseases linked to obesity, as well as helping improve the eating habits of the most vulnerable population in the area.
Medical equipment was purchased for the new centre and a classroom equipped so that nutrition conferences and consultations could be held.
A programme was developed with a dietician that consists of conferences on topics such as understanding food packaging labels, risks linked to alcohol, sugar and fat, and low budget healthy recipes.
An individual nutrition programme also proposes an initial appointment with the dietician and periodical follow-ups. Physical activities are being offered to children to promote a healthier lifestyle. Volunteer employees from Givaudan Mexico were involved from the start of the project and continue to work in close contact with CCSF.
“I came to the centre for an assessment of my diet. I would also like to be taught about children’s diet to help our grandchildren.”
Irene Alarcon Santana, San Mateo inhabitant