The Department for Health,UK has launched a scheme which offers vouchers that provide £2.80 worth of fresh fruit and vegetables, vitamin supplements, milk or infant formula to poor families
The Department for Health (DoH), UK has launched a new scheme to benefit low-income group families. Its primary aim is to provide healthy nutrition to toddlers between 1 and 4, nursing mothers and all expectant mothers below 18.
The Healthy Start scheme offers vouchers, which provide £2.80 worth of fresh fruit and vegetables, vitamin supplements, milk or infant formula. Households with children under one year will get two vouchers every week.'Poor diet can have a real impact on people's health. We want people to have the best possible opportunity to eat healthily. But for families in low -income households, this is sometimes easier said than done,' public health minister Caroline Flint said.
'This new scheme will not only provide greater choice of healthy food, but will also mean that children can get milk and fresh fruit and vegetables from the cradle up, helping to give them the best possible start in life.'
Families can use these vouchers in 20,000 retail outlets, which include markets, greengrocers, milk shops, supermarkets and pharmacists.
The programme replaces the Welfare Food Scheme, which was set up during World War II to protect children's health.
Source-Medindia
PRI/ASH/L
