Emphasis on strong school health model

School health plan for 2010 drafted

BY PMA RASHEED

The Gulf Today, 7 Jan 2010

The primary health care sector of Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has drafted the annual school health plan for the year 2010 which will be implemented across 160 schools in Dubai.

The plan has been designed to encourage 200,000 students across the 160 schools in the emirate to adopt a healthier lifestyle, health officials said.

Robust model

Emphasising on the need to implement a strong school health model, Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Bin Kalban, CEO of primary health sector at the DHA, said, "Healthy eating patterns in childhood and adolescence promote optimal childhood health, intellectual development and growth. It is a known fact that school-based health initiatives play an important role in promoting lifelong healthy dietary practices."

He also visited the Al Mankhool Clinic to review the annual school health plan with the team responsible for school health in Dubai.

Triggering disease

Dr Nahed Khaleq, Head of the School Health Sector Programme at the DHA, said, "Unhealthy eating patters that are adopted at a young age, affect the health of the youth and cause lifestyle diseases such as obesity and obesity triggers off other serious health complications."

"Therefore, it is crucial to reach out to the youth and educate them about the importance of nutrition and exercise," she added.

Medical camps

"In addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle, the school health programme sends a team of doctors and nurses to schools and ensures that students have received all the requisite vaccinations they require," she noted.

According to her, the DHA school health team also conducts presentations and workshops from time to time to educate children about the dangers of smoking.