Dubai: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to encourage students to increase physical activity and implement the comprehensive Dubai School Health Policy. Under this, schools will encourage students to increase physical activities to 150 minutes a week.
The MoU aims to aid in unification of important processes such as screening, school health clinic set-up and to enhance students’ health and well-being.
“In line with the vision of our leaders and in line with the DHA Health Strategy 2016-2021, we are keen to provide our community with the highest level of quality health services. School health is undoubtedly an important focus,” said Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, director-general of the DHA.
The five-year policy was developed after extensive consultation with stakeholders including the KHDA, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Sports Council, with an aim to create a safe, healthy and motivating school environment for pupils. “It will lay the foundation for schools to adhere to certain standards to ensure physical, emotional, social and psychological well-being of schoolchildren,” said Al Qutami.
The KHDA will cooperate with the DHA to implement the policy across private schools in Dubai. Some of the areas of collaboration as part of the MoU include schools encouraging students to increase physical activity to 150 minutes a week.
The DHA will also train health care professionals on its comprehensive screening programme that includes vision, dental, obesity and mental health screening. The aim is to promote early intervention, unify the screening process, and ensure all schools follow comprehensive guidelines.
The policy also includes training by the DHA for school health professionals and academicians on early detection of children with developmental and behavioural disabilities. Training will focus on ways to provide support so that students can thrive in schools to the maximum extent possible. The two entities have already carried out one training session recently and more are under way.
Unification of clinic set-up in schools is another area listed in the policy. The DHA will collaborate with the KHDA to ensure that all schools in Dubai follow the same standards for health clinics. They will also support and supervise the implementation of the school health programme in educational establishments.
School clinics will need to enter details of every student’s vaccination record in DHA’s electronic system known as Hasana. Parents will have access to their children’s records through an app.
Dr Abdullah Al Karam, chairman of the Board of Directors and director-general of KHDA, noted that the MoU marks an extension of joint efforts between the various working groups to promote healthy lifestyles and sports in all educational institutions.
“The well-being and happiness of our students and the adoption of healthy lifestyles are a priority for our staff,” said Dr Al Karam.
