Wake up call

Health campaign includes contest for parents and students

The Ministry of Health in association with the Ministry of Education has organised the National Health Campaign 2002, the second consecutive campaign which will enable students and their parents to participate in a Health Education Contest.

Registrations for this are in progress. Participants of the contest are grouped into three sections according to age. Question sheets should be completed and submitted to the concerned teachers before May 27. Entries would be scrutinised and prizes awarded to winning entries on June 8.

This campaign aims at creating awareness about oral and dental hygiene, nutrition, smoking, accidents and AIDS. A special CD has been prepared for this purpose. Priced at Dh30, it is packed with information and picture clips.

Among the various schools involved, an positive feedback was received from the Sharjah Indian School. "The entire concept is very encouraging and students have participated with equal enthusiasm each time," said K.N.N.Pillai, principal of the school.

"The question sheets for the respective age groups have been prepared well and are thought-provoking. Two of our students had won prizes last year.

Over all, the campaign does improve one's awareness on issues such as first-aid, obesity and heart diseases. Since these subjects are not taken up academically, such programmes help the children and even the families to understand them better," he added.

Priya Pavithran, a Grade X student of the school who had won a prize last year, will be participating in the campaign again this year.

"The CD is definitely more informative this time," she said. "The language and presentation is so easy to follow that even the younger members are able to grasp the message.

"Inclusion of topics like smoking, hypertension and accidents makes it valuable to not only children but also adults," she added.