In 4 stations and continues until March 8th

Ibra – Salem bin Mohammed Al Barashdi –

The 2018 mobile health awareness caravan was launched in North Al Sharqiyah under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Yahya bin Hamoud Al Maamari, Governor of North Al Sharqiyah, and in the presence of Saud bin Amer Al-Nadhiri, Acting Director General of Health Services in North Al Sharqiyah, along with a number of dignitaries and directors of government and private departments in the governorate.

The campaign launch ceremony included a speech delivered by Saud Al-Nadhiri, the Director General of the Directorate, in which he said: The activities of the third health awareness caravan are launching, under the slogan: ‘In Them We Plant the Concept of Health’. Through this, we aim to provide all segments of the school community with sound health information and knowledge that helps in acquiring some general life and health skills, It also aims to develop positive attitudes towards public and personal health and related matters. He explained the importance of the campaign for students, mentioning some health statistics, saying: The changes that have occurred in society, educational and health services, and the family system have increased the need for school health care services, National statistics for 2016 indicate that children under 18 years old constitute more than two-fifths of the Sultanate’s population.

The total number of students in the governorate’s schools reached 46,889 students, representing 27% of the governorate’s population.

Some health problems have been recorded among students, such as malnutrition and underweight at 36% among first cycle students, overweight at 24.5% among second cycle students, vision impairment at 18%, and nutritional anemia at 32.8%, The percentage of smoking students reached 2.5%, 52% of students consume fast food, and 50% of them have been exposed to various types of violence. In light of this, the importance of activating programs and activities that contribute to achieving that goal comes in an educational and awareness-raising manner that is appropriate for students’ levels, with an interactive and participatory methodology, away from the strategy of receiving and indoctrination.

Regarding the importance of the campaign, the Director General explained: This caravan, in its third edition, comes to highlight the awareness aspect and its role in delivering the awareness message and enhancing understanding among the school community groups including students, teaching and administrative staff, and parents. It presents it with a new methodology and an attractive style that touches the aspirations of individuals, Through this year’s mobile health caravan, the health services provided in primary and secondary health care institutions will be presented, with the participation of some governmental and civil bodies such as the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate Police Command, the General Directorate of Social Development, the General Directorate of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, the Traffic Safety Committee in Wilayat Bidiya, the Hereditary Blood Diseases Association, and Al-Issari Center. It will stop at ten (10) schools across various wilayats of the governorate.

Then, the patron of the event honored the participating institutions and individuals, Afterwards, the patron and attendees proceeded to open the exhibition accompanying the campaign, which was held at Sumaya School. The exhibition included eleven corners: an educational cinema hall showing awareness films, a mental health corner, in addition to a corner for community initiatives to introduce (support groups – healthy villages – health committees), a women and children corner, bus detentions corner, and an electronic blackmail corner. Some health services were also displayed (weight and height measurement for adults to determine body mass index, nutrition in school age, obesity and its harms, oral and dental health, rational use of medication and elderly health – kidney diseases in addition to autism, first aid, and hand washing methods, The caravan tours North Al Sharqiyah and stops at four stations in Ibra, Al Mudhaibi, Bidiya, and Dima Wa Al Taien, continuing until March 8th.