Ministry launches back-to-school health campaign

An awareness campaign to promote a healthy lifestyle for both pupils and parents as the new academic year begins has been initiated by the UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP).

Running until August 31, the campaign is emphasising the benefits of physical activity, a balanced diet, regulated sleep patterns, and controlled electronic screen time.

Six community events have been held, which 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.

Nutritionists provided participants with tips on how to preserve food in school lunch bags during prolonged school hours. They also introduced parents to the 5,210 health concept, which promotes 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.

There were also discussions with health educators on packing a balanced school lunch, body mass index (BMI) screenings, health counseling for parents, and quizzes. Health prescription booklets were also distributed and virtual awareness workshops conducted for students' families and employers.

The campaign is in line with MoHAP’s over-arching strategy aimed at managing community health and preventative programs, uplifting the quality of life, bolstering public health, and fostering a society that's informed, safe, and keenly health-aware.

The initiative also highlights the importance of health-conscious practices for students and parents, ensuring they're adopted and maintained within the school setting and also focused on increasing awareness of seasonal influenza and other respiratory diseases.