Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has launched a ‘Back-to-School’ health awareness campaign. The campaign is aimed at educating parents and students about the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles as they return to school.
In collaboration with the Ministry’s representative offices across the UAE, six community events were held at Lulu Hypermarkets. In addition, an exclusive awareness session was organised specifically for MoHAP employees.
According to Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector, the newly launched campaign falls under the umbrella of the ‘Health-Promoting Schools’ initiative launched by the World Health Organisation and UNESCO to holistically enhance the health and well-being of students.
The Ministry’s collaboration with educational institutions is not just cursory but deep-rooted, stemming from a shared goal: to emphasise the role of proper nutrition in our schools. After all, a nutritious diet doesn’t just affect a child’s physical growth; it is integral to their cognitive development and academic performance. Together, we strive to lay the foundations of a lifestyle that prioritises health, thereby enriching both the body and mind of our nation’s future.
Mr. Al Rand shared.
Ms. Nouf Khamis, Director of the Health Promotion Department at the Ministry, remarked that “the initiative aligns with the Ministry’s broader goals: to foster healthy habits and active lifestyles among students, ensure a health-conscious school environment, and manage electronic screen usage.”
These events involved a series of activities, including healthy cooking workshops for parents and children, guided by expert chefs, where they learned how to prepare nutritious school meals.
The event provided participants with tips on how to preserve food in school lunch bags during prolonged school hours. The experts introduced parents to the 5,210 health concept, which emphasises five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, an hour of physical activity, limiting screen time to under two hours, and avoiding sugary and energy drinks.
Furthermore, the events featured discussions with health educators on packing a balanced school lunch, body mass index (BMI) screenings, health counselling for parents, and engaging quizzes. Additionally, health prescription booklets were distributed, and virtual awareness workshops were conducted for students’ families and employers.