Milk seminar to start

Sep 25, 2005

At the time when controversies have forced the Government to put on hold a policy for the distribution of milk to schools, a four-day conference on milk opens in Uganda tomorrow.

By Stephen Ssenkaaba
At the time when controversies have forced the Government to put on hold a policy for the distribution of milk to schools, a four-day conference on milk opens in Uganda tomorrow.
Milk, the foundation for all other dairy products, is projected to be an exceptional food. According to WholeHealthMD.com, milk is rich in high-quality protein and also a pre-eminent source of calcium. In addition, it supplies vitamins A and D, riboflavin, other B vitamins and phosphorus.
It is also balanced in its amino acid makeup. Unlike the protein in many types of meat, the protein in low fat and skimmed milk does not come packaged with fat.
Milk is particularly high in the amino acid lysine, which is limited in many plant foods, especially grains, making milk an ideal complement to grain products.
“Although calcium occurs in many other foods, including green leafy vegetables, it is in its most usable form in milk. Just two cups of skim milk a day provides 50% of the adult daily value for calcium — or under 200 calories. A fair amount of phosphorus, which works in balance with calcium to build bone, is another of milk’s nutritional assets,” says WholeHealthMD .com
It is in light of its immense nutritional value that the Ministry of Agriculture is partnering with different organisations to map out ways of introducing milk consumption in schools.
The ministry, in collaboration with Diary Development Authority (DDA) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, will host the first Eastern and Southern Africa Regional School Milk Conference. The conference will be held at Hotel African until September 30 under the theme Milk in Schools: Realising Economic and Nutritional Benefits.
Dr. Nathan Twinamasiko, the executive director of DDA, said the conference will aim at promoting the introduction of milk in schools within the region.
They will also discuss the impact of school milk on the national market, nutrition and performance of the children in addition to the sustainability of the milk programme. The conference will target professionals in health, nutrition and education sectors.
Ends

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});