Schools must raise health awareness

ABU DHABI — Education and health institutions should cooperate to raise awareness among schoolchildren to adopt a disease-free, healthy lifestyle, urged Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Education.

By A Staff Reporter

Published: Tue 9 May 2006, 11:24 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 7:37 PM

“Education and health institutions shoulder a big responsibility in safeguarding schoolchildren against ailments, especially nowadays as diseases like anaemia, diabetes and malnutrition have begun to spread in the society due to unhealthy practices,” said Dr Hassan.

The minister’s statement came while addressing the second ‘Health Promoting Schools Forum’ organised yesterday at Le Royal Meridian in Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the UAE General Women’s Union.

The Ministry of Health, the Students Activities and Welfare Section at the Ministry of Education, in addition to the General Authority for Health Services for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (GAHS) participated in organising the second meeting for health promoting schools. A total of 28 schools, including 18 from the Abu Dhabi educational zones, were awarded yesterday for implementing the international health promoting school programme.

Securing a safe and healthy environment for students is a top priority for the Ministry of Education, stressed Dr Hassan. “The school plays a great role in affecting conduct and healthy behaviour of students, especially as the study period is considered the most important time for schoolchildren to build up and regulate their own lifestyles,” said the minister.

He lauded health authorities for enhancing the ‘Health Promoting Schools’ programme, which was launched as a pilot project in October 2004.

He said the project was initially implemented in 18 schools in different educational zones. The number of schools implementing the project increased to 31, thanks to the efforts exerted by GAHS to provide all means of success to the project.

For his part, Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami, Minister of Health, said making a qualitative leap in the school system requires the cooperation of all the parties concerned. “Introducing a change in the entire school system requires a national commitment from us all. This commitment should be sustainable and based on good planning and honouring those who are distinguished,” said Qutami.

Speaking at the forum, Dr Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazroui, Director-General of GAHS, said collaboration between health and education authorities represents a civilised vision initiated by the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.