Dubai Health Authority floats school health policy to boost students’ lifestyle

DUBAI: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has launched the school health policy for the emirate of Dubai with an aim to create a safe, healthy and motivating school environment for pupils. The comprehensive policy has three main key components: disease prevention and early detection, health information and research systems and encouraging students to lead a healthy lifestyle.

As part of the strategy, the authority will launch 12 programmes based on these three components that are applicable for private schools in the emirate.

The 12 programmes include: a programme to encourage students to eat five portions of vegetables and fruits a day, a programme to increase physical activity to 150 minutes a week, compliance with the essential immunisation programme, an awareness and screening programme about non-communicable diseases, dental, visual and obesity early-detection programme, a health supervision programme, according to DHA standards. In addition there is a programme that entails building a database system and an integrated health information systems through HASANA and the student’s electronic file, school health services accreditation programme, school health research and studies programme, unified school infrastructure programme, unification of emergency and disaster safety procedures programme and a programme to unify and circulate a psychological counseling support plan.

Healthy lifestyle

By implementing these programmes, the DHA aims to increase fruit and vegetable intake among students aged 7-15 years-old, encourage healthier food consumption, increase physical activity amongst students aged 7-15 years-old and decrease obesity amongst students aged 7-15 years old – in line with Dubai Plan 2021and UAE Vision 2021

Dr Manal Al Taryam, CEO of Primary Healthcare Sector at the DHA, said: “A holistic school health environment is needed to protect children and bring out the best in them.

We designed this policy after carefully considering all these factors. We have worked with various governmental authorities in the UAE to jointly design a truly comprehensive school health policy,”

Dr Nahed Monsef, Director of Health Affairs Department at the DHA, said, “Immunisation is an important way of protecting children from some illnesses – including those that suddenly become a bigger threat.”

Concerted effort

Dr Monsef added: “While the authority has already several initiatives in place, a wider five-year policy will be extremely comprehensive. concentrating on three major themes which are: healthy lifestyle promotion, disease prevention and early detection and strengthening the health informatics system. 

“The policy was developed in collaboration with our strategic stakeholders such as Ministry of Health and Prevention, Ministry of Education, KHDA, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Sport Council including parents and the community.”

Dr Ayesha Al Theeb from the school health department at the DHA said: “For a successful school health policy, we need to ensure all stakeholders including parents and staff truly understand the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.”

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