The Eastern Cape Department of Education National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), celebrated World School Milk Day (WSMD) at Graslaagte Primary School in Humansdorp and Coega Primary School on 19 and 20 October 2017 respectively.

The WSMD is celebrated under the theme “Dairy Gives You Go. World School Milk Day is celebrated on the last Wednesday in September, but the NSNP Directorate felt it necessary that it marries both the WSMD celebrations with the National Nutrition Week celebrations, from the 17^th – 20^thof October 2017.

The end of the month was chosen as it is a school day in most countries around the world. World School Milk Day is now celebrated in more than 40 Countries around the world. It celebrates the health benefits of school milk programmes.

Landile Mbanjwa, Provincial Chief Executive Specialist for National School Nutrition Programme untangled what the celebrations where all about “We are here at Nelson Mandela Metro District to celebrate Nation School Nutrition Week, the way we have conceptualized the event this year is to start with the National School Nutrition Week which was celebrated at Ikhwezi Lomso Senior Secondary School, in that event what we wanted to achieve was to convey messages that are consistent with a Nutrition Education. These messages should be infused into the curriculum and in the learning areas that are most relevant in that regard” explained Mbanjwa.

He further pointed out that “We proceeded to Graslaagte Primary School where we were trying to promote the importance of consumption of milk which is in line with the theme “Dairy Gives You Go”, the school fully participated and had organized the event to our certification. It was an exciting day for both schools, as various activities were performed in line with the theme of the day”

Nomfundo Somhlahlo from South African Sugar Association (SASA) enlighten the importance of Milk to the learners “World School Milk Day is an engaging way to teach learners about the importance of drinking milk as part of a healthy balanced diet with an emphasis on milk as an excellent source of vitamins and minerals that learners need to stay alert and ready to learn” she further explained “Milk and dairy continues to play an important role in our children’s health. They provide 40 – 50 % of calcium, iodine, vitamin and B12. They also contribute 15% of energy and about 20% each of fat and protein intake”

Milk and dairy foods are important sources of several nutrients which contribute to health.