LIMH In Exciting World Food Day CME/Chief Chef Competition
Glamour, glitz and excitement, are the succinct and salient words that best describe yesterday’s celebration of the World Food Day, by the staff of Lagos Island Maternity Hospital.
What’s more, the food competition among four Chefs, from different Departments of the hospital, even added colour and dynamism to all the fun associated with the event.
The beauty of it all was the secrecy involved in the cooking competition, as contestants had no prior knowledge of what they are preparing, or the ingredients involved.
The tasting and testing session of prepared meals in itself, by the panel of judges as well as those tasting, including the Medical Director, Dr Olufemi Omololu, were simply a lot to write home about.
Reacting, after tasting the different meals on ground, the MD opened up gleefully, “I enjoyed all the food”, “everybody is a winner”.
Even the carefully selected Judges, from GH Lagos (Director of Nutrition and Dietetics Mrs Nwankwo), HSC Catering Rep( Mr Jide ) and Nestle medical Rep( Mrs Abisola ) had to bring in their wealth of experience before they can choose the best, from the delicacies on ground, all prepared within thirty minutes.
Earlier, the Head of Department, Dietetics and Nutrition, Mrs Funmilola Ijiwola, welcomed members of staff to the programme, held inside the hospital’s Conference Room, under the theme,”Right to Foods For a Better Life and a Better Future”.
She said the bottom line is the ability to find a balance diet even. with the little at hand, as well as detecting what hinders people from eating adequate or balance diet.
The Continuous Medical Education (CME) lecture of the day, “Perspective of Health Workers on Food As Their Medicine”, was from Mrs Joyce Icheme, a Dietician.
She spoke on the importance of food, to life, as “unhealthy diet leads all forms of malnutrition”.
According to her, “we need food to stay alive, and it’s the third most basic human need, after air and water”.
While presenting the result of the Survey conducted in relation to the World Food Day, where 96 Health Workers participated; 69 Males, 27 Females, Mrs Ichene defined food as “any substance that provides nourishment to living organism”.
On his part, Dr Omololu advised “we need to find ways to maintain healthy life style, take our health seriously and avoid being overweight, because of its extra health challenges”. You have a role to play in living long”. “Being overweight is not a joke*, he warned.
He advised the staff further, “Island Maternity Hospital is work – life balance, doing your work well for patients sake, is very paramount and important”, the MD said.
“Behaviour and lifestyle change is good for both patients and staff as well, Dr Omololu informed the gathering.
A game of “How well you know your food” was played, with participants blindfolded while tasting the food. Question and Answer session also featured, with right answers attracting gift items.
On her part, HOD, Catering, Mrs Victoria Omoyeni said, although huge amount of money is not always needed to make good food, people need to take note of what they eat, as “nutrients in foods you eat usually do the magic”.
At the end of the Cooking Competition by four Contestants; Messrs Borode Timilehin Segun (Snr. Health Info. Mgt.Tech.), Ojo Taiwo (ICT), Mrs Akinwunmi Khadijat Olaide (Snr. Store Officer) and Adeniji Oluwafunmilayo David (Snr Nursing Officer), Contestant No 3, Mr Ojo Taiwo emerged the winner, much to the delight of the audience.
The event ended with a group photograph, by all contestants with the MD and panel of judges as well as the High Table members.