An important factor influencing human health is food. The improvement of healthy nutrition is one of the leading principles for improving the health of the population. Nutrition education is a vital part of a comprehensive health education program and empowers children with knowledge and skills to make healthy food and beverage choices. On the the 8th of March 2023, International Women’s Day, Voice Trust conducted a Nutrition Education Program to the students of Sri Meenakshi Government Arts College for Women, Madurai. The program’s main aim was to encourage students to develop healthy eating habits by providing nutrition education and peer support. Certificates were given to 32 students for their active participation in various Voice Trust Nutrition based activities. Dr S. Vanathi, Principal and the professors of the College graced the occasion with their presence.

Voice Trust in association with the department of Food and Nutrition and the Department of Community Medicine Velammal Hospital, Madurai organized week-long competitions on the occasion of National Nutrition Week and the valedictory function was held at Velammal Hospital on the 6th Sep 2022. Nutrition affects the overall development of not only an individual, but also an entire nation. This is because a diet deficit in nutritive value can have long-term impact on health, leading to diet-related disorders. This usually results in lessproductivity as physical output and capacity decrease, leading to economic loss on a macro level, directly affecting the development of an entire nation. To lead an active and healthy lifestyle, a well-balanced diet combined with regular physical exercise is crucial. Good nutrition boosts immunity, cuts the risk of mental and physical disorders and helps in fighting diseases..

This program was organized on 7th July 2022 at Panchayat Union Middle School, LKP Nagar, Madurai for the benefit of school children. The event was conducted in association with Rajmahal Silks, Lady Doak College, Meenakshi College and Suji Healthcare Madurai. Dr T.Mariappan ICMR Senior Scientist(Retd) interacted with the students and explained in detail about the Health and Hygiene to be maintained and about various diseases.

For the benefit of school children of PUM School, Meenakshi Nagar,Sakkimangalam Madurai, Health and Hygiene Awareness was conducted on 25th July 2022. The program was conducted in association with Rajmahal silks,Lady Doak College, Meenakshi College and Suji Healthcare Madurai.

With special reference to communicable diseases on 10th August 2022,“Hygiene and Nutrition” awareness program was conducted at PUM School,Thatchanenthal, Sivagangai Road, Madurai. This Program was organised by Voice Trust in association with Meenakshi College, Madurai. The Cheif guest B. Meenakshi, Panchayat President presided the event. Guest speaker, Senior Scientist Dr. T. Marriyappan ICMR (Redt) elaborated the children about various diseases. A skit and Quiz program was organized by Meenakshi College to make the event more interactive. Around 150 School students benefitted from the program.

On the 8th March 2022, International Women’s Day was celebrated in a grand manner at Ramesh Flowers (Gala Group), Thoothukudi in association with Velammal Medical College Hospital and Suji Healthcare Madurai. “Healthy Food Healthy Life” awareness Program was conducted for the benefit of women employees of Ramesh Flowers. The event was inaugurated by the Vice President of Ramesh Flowers, Mr M Chandrasekaran. Dr Vidhya SM.D.D.N.B, Consultant Psychiatrist from Velammal Hospital imparted an in depth knowledge about the various mental health issues related to the lack of healthy food in one’s life to the women employees. Voice Trust Director T Murugesan explained in detail about some nutrition deficient diseases and how to tackle them through the intake of healthy food. Around 300 women were benefitted through this program.

The National Nutrition Week’s main objective is to raise awareness about the importance of healthy eating habits. It also aims towards motivating people to ensure a balanced diet for a healthy lifestyle. The first week of September is celebrated as the National Nutrition Week in India.The theme for the National Nutrition Day 2022 is ‘Celebrate a World of Flavours’, to motivate people to have a healthy lifestyle while enjoying the flavours of food. This year, the National Nutrition Week was Celebrated on 3rd of sep 2022 along with the department of Nutrition, Government Meenakshi Womens College, Madurai.

Under the National Service Scheme, on the 9th of Dec 2021, Voice Trust in association with ICDS, MSS WKF Board College, Madurai and Suji Healthcare Pvt Ltd organized an Awareness Program on Nutrition and Hygiene for Women. This program was conducted to benefit the adolescent women of MSS WKF Board College, Madurai. The keynote address was delivered by Mrs Helen Rose, District Social Welfare Officer, Madurai District ICDS and the presidential address was given by Dr A Mohammed Aslam, the principal of MSS WKF Board College, Madurai. More than 100 Students and staff of the college were benefitted from the program.

Voice Trust and Apollo Hospital Madurai jointly organized a “Health and Nutrition Awareness” programme for Madurai Duraisamy Nagar Resident Association and their families

At this event Mrs. Sukanya, Apollo Hospital chief Dietician explained in detail about the various foods and habits that have to be followed to prevent various diseases. She also clarified the audience questions at the end of the presentation. About 75 people benefited from the event. The programme came to an end with a vote of thanks by Voice Trust Managing Director T Murugesan

Awareness seminar on National Nutrition Week Day was organized at Sri Meenakshi Govt.Arts College for Women(A), Madurai on 03-09.2019 which was organized by Voice Trust, Suji HealthCare, Lions Club of Pandian and Madurai Apollo Hospital. Breakfast is often avoided in today’s environment. Eating more junk food and fast food has become a habit nowadays and loved by everyone.

Our traditional food has been forgotten. The restaurants usually sell parotas made out of maida. This is loved and consumed by today’s generation. The result is likely to be cardiovascular problems, High Blood pressure, Kidney failure and diabetes. If this continues we will lose a healthy India. The main emphasis was to switch to the traditional foods and reduce the diseases. Around 500 students participated and benefitted from this programme.

Dietetics Day- Reaching the unreached Nutrition Outreach Programme was celebrated at Kulamangalam Village, Madurai on 10/01/2020. This programme was organised by Voice Trust, Sri Meenakshi Govt Arts College For Women(A) Madurai, Lions Club of Madurai Senthamil, Indian Dietetic Association- Kilakarai Chapter and Suji Healthcare Pvt Ltd. This Event was organised to impart the importance of healthy diet to the people in the village of Kulamangalam. The Chief Guest MJF Lion R Ramasamy Dist Governor, Dist 324-B3 in his speech emphasised the importance of our traditional food.

The main highlight of the programme was from the Home Science Department students of Meenakshi College. The message of Healthy Diet and Nutrition reached to the village people very efficiently through the students vibrant Villupattu, skits, Quiz and Nutrious Recipe Demonstration. A total of around 100 village people & 50 College students were befitted by this programme. Free Lunch and refreshments were provided along with prizes for the winners in the Quiz competition. Broadly the programme was conducted mainly to create awareness among people about the importance of nutrition and a balanced diet with the Governments vision to make India malnutrition free by 2020.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day Celebration 2020, a Free Health Camp was held on 10th March 2020 at Agricultural College & Research Institute, Madurai exclusively for women. Free medical camps are conducted with a sacred aim to bring awareness and provide completely free medical checkup including all medical services which are available nowadays in hospitals.

This Awareness Programme was conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai under ICAR Development Grant SC Plan- 2019-2020 in association with Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai and Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Madurai on 07.03.2020.

The awareness programme on Cleanliness, Health, and Nutrition is conducted with a view to equip the students about health and hygiene, about various nutritious food that they should take while they are still growing physically and also how to overcome stress and tensions in their early age. Through collaborated efforts like these, the need to spread awareness programme to adolescent girls & boys of the state and also rural areas is very important.

The program was conducted in association with Apollo Hospitals, Madurai for the college students. Health Awareness regarding changes in the body and teenage problems were addressed by eminent doctors. various topics like Irregular periods, PCOD, Thyroid problems, correct diet, exercise, food habit were explained in detail. Around 600 students participated and benefitted.