Education and Health Councils launch "School Health Initiative"

The Supreme Education Council and Supreme Council of Health launched the School Health Initiative aimed at developing healthy habits among school communities and create a safe healthy environment that promotes academic performance of the students.

Dr. Fatima al Ali, director of School Health Initiative in Qatar said in a meeting held in the SEC building in Al Dafna. The meeting was attended by Mr. Rabiea Al Kaabi, under secretary for Education and Higher education, Dr. Salih Bin Ali Al Marri, assistant Secretary General for Health Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Al Thani, General Health Director and Mr. Khalid Al Harqan, Assistant Director, Education Institute and school principals and operators from semi-independent and independent schools participating in the initiative. They all agreed that acquired behavior during childhood shaped an individual's health habits as an adult thus, the collaboration between the SEC and SCH is of utmost importance to establish the foundation for healthy habits among students.

Dr. Salih Al Marri revealed that 85% of schools will be part of the School Health Initiative.

Dr. Hassan Bella, the World Health Organization's (WHO) consultant and professor of international health at John Hopkins University said that WHO's Global School Health Initiative, launched in 1995, seeks to mobilize and strengthen health promotion and education activities at the local, national, regional and global levels. The Initiative is designed to improve the health of students, school personnel, families and other members of the community through schools. The general direction of WHO's Global School Health Initiative is guided by the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. It is based on eight components which are: health education, physical education, comprehensive health services, educational and emotional fulfillment and knowledge and culture of healthy nutrition, healthy environment, healthy teachers acting as role models to students, effective partnership among the school, the family and the community.

The School Health Initiative will hold a 4 day workshop for educationalists (four from each of the 11 participating schools). Each school will then sign a protocol with the SEC and SCH to confirm their commitment to the program and ensure its implementation and sustainability.