GSK, FANUS: Championing Wellness Though Nutritional Website

GOOD nutrition is the bedrock of human wellbeing. Tackling global nutrition problems is essential for achieving the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While the world is currently not on course to meet the global nutrition targets set by the World Health Assembly, many countries and other stakeholders are making good progress.

Addressing malnutrition is complex and requires concerted efforts by all stakeholders. Of particular concern is the lack of accurate, timely information, as well as wide-reaching platforms to educate people across the continent.

Against this background, Horlicks, premium nutritional beverage drink from the stables of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc (GSK), in collaboration with the Federation of Africa Nutrition Societies (FANUS), last year, launched a website designed to provide nutrition and health information to Nigerians and Africans at large. The uniquely designed website, www.africanfamilynutrition.com, has since its hosting, provided comprehensive information on various aspects of wellness and lifestyle including nutrition, pregnancy, health and physical fitness.

Backed up by adequate research and resources, using experts from the Federation of Africa Nutrition Societies as major contributors to the website, the site provides all Africans with detailed information on good nutrition, general wellbeing and other related issues.

It was observed during a recent visit to the website that visitors can now share articles on the site via social media channels like Facebook and Twitter as well as rate information. Navigation buttons and bars are user-friendly and easy to understand. The language on the website is conversational and the site has responsive search functions. Requirements for sign up are simple information details as well.

As a way of making the information available to a larger population, and overcoming the challenge of low internet penetration which is still a barrier in Africa, GSK has decided to make the information on the website accessible to non-internet users through the introduction of a toll free voice portal.