Specialist stresses the importance of health education in schools and the role of parents in protecting students’ health

The Dar Al Marefa Health Week kicks off today (Sunday) to commemorate World Health Day which took place on April 7th, with a campaign that includes activities to raise health awareness amongst school students.  The campaign includes different sessions covering oral health, sleep disorders, nutrition and general health concerns, such as blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and will also include a display of a selection of artwork prepared by the children on the occasion of World Health Day.
Munir Jamal, Dar Al Marefa Principal, said, “The Health Week events will highlight common diseases and health problems among school students, including infectious diseases that can result in frequent absences, causing students to lag behind their peers in class. We are also hoping to educate students on the symptoms of silent diseases such as diabetes and obesity, because early detection of such diseases can lead to their effective treatment and control.”
Dr. Rania Alnounou, campaign supervisor, said that “it is necessary to include health education in the curriculum in order to educate students on health topics that are related to their day-to-day life, such as nutrition, first-aid and chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes and obesity’’.
“Health education should not be merely about receiving information, but should include student participation in interactive activities such as preparing educational boards or posters, and encourage them to research and gather health-related information to be presented to their peers. In addition, students should form health committees that can participate along with school doctors and nurses in activities during health awareness campaigns,” she added.
Dr. Rania explained that “upper respiratory infections are the most common infectious diseases among school students, followed by intestinal and stomach infections, and that prevention can be achieved through compliance with personal hygiene rules such as frequently washing ones hands, and by staying away from ill students’’.
She stressed on the importance of the school's role in preventing the spread of infections among other students, through utilizing means to detect infections such as measuring students’ temperature and following up suspect cases by notifying the family.  In turn, parents should also pay attention to their children and not send them to school if they are not feeling well, and refer them instead to the family doctor immediately.
She said, “The contribution of teachers in detecting infections amongst students is significant. The teacher should send an ill student to the school clinic or nurse to measure his/her temperature, and then the school physician should examine the student and grant sick leave if necessary. The parents should be contacted to update them on the situation, medicines may be prescribed, or in more serious cases the child should be referred to a hospital.”
Health Week activities will conclude with an art exhibition held in the school building in Mirdiff, which will showcase paintings as well as educational and awareness brochures prepared by the students on the occasion of World Health Day. The aim of the activity is to challenge students to become active learners and enhance their research and exploration skills.