“Urgent need for health intervention at school level”
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| File picture of students of a Municipal Primary School eating their Mid-day Meal in New Delhi |
There is an urgent need for health interventions at the school level among students in the Capital, according to a study conducted by non government organisation Swashrit. The survey revealed that students feel extremely tired by the end of the day and can only jog for 15 minutes at a stretch.
Further, 50 per cent of the children who were interviewed said they eat eggs/pulses and nuts only once in a week.
The survey conducted among students of Delhi and neighbouring schools also showed that most children buy food from the canteen at least two-three times in a week but prefer home–made food to canteen food.
Students were found to be consuming junk food twice a week and would pick up foods items like burgers, kathi rolls, chowmein, chips and pizzas. Most of the children interviewed consume breakfast before going to school and drink five to eight glasses of water a day and consumed three to four servings of fruits and vegetables per day on an average. Further most of the children interviewed drink milk everyday although there are a few who do so only two to three days a week.
The survey which was released here on Tuesday underlined the need for initiatives to address the problems lifestyle – related diseases pose.
“Fortunately for school students in an attempt to promote good nutrition and active lifestyle in an active learning manner a beginning has been made with several organisations joining hands to come up with a school intervention partnership program that helps. The ‘Get active' campaign brings together several companies including Swashrit, Hriday and Indian Medical Association and aims to reach ten metros across the country,'' said Batra Hospital and Research Centre CEO Dr. Sanjeev Bagai.
He added that developing and implementing an effective guideline for school administrators/ educators is necessary to assist them in having definite school health policies. It is mandatory to ensure that school health programmes are based on formally assessed and evidence- based practice.
The group of companies coming together for the programme is also organising a conference this Sunday focusing on both scientific and social aspects of child health.
Meanwhile the study noted that apart from nutrition and exercise related issues other aspects of child health also need to be taken into account. Of particular concern is the high incidence of infectious diseases.
“Incorporating specific interventions in school health policies must not only be related to nutrition and exercise but must also be aimed at containing the spread of infectious diseases. This can be achieved by emphasising on elementary measures like personal hygiene, cleanliness and hand washing,'' said All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Head of the Centre for Community Medicine, Dr. C. S. Pandav.
Further, 50 per cent of the children who were interviewed said they eat eggs/pulses and nuts only once in a week.
The survey conducted among students of Delhi and neighbouring schools also showed that most children buy food from the canteen at least two-three times in a week but prefer home–made food to canteen food.
Students were found to be consuming junk food twice a week and would pick up foods items like burgers, kathi rolls, chowmein, chips and pizzas. Most of the children interviewed consume breakfast before going to school and drink five to eight glasses of water a day and consumed three to four servings of fruits and vegetables per day on an average. Further most of the children interviewed drink milk everyday although there are a few who do so only two to three days a week.
The survey which was released here on Tuesday underlined the need for initiatives to address the problems lifestyle – related diseases pose.
“Fortunately for school students in an attempt to promote good nutrition and active lifestyle in an active learning manner a beginning has been made with several organisations joining hands to come up with a school intervention partnership program that helps. The ‘Get active' campaign brings together several companies including Swashrit, Hriday and Indian Medical Association and aims to reach ten metros across the country,'' said Batra Hospital and Research Centre CEO Dr. Sanjeev Bagai.
He added that developing and implementing an effective guideline for school administrators/ educators is necessary to assist them in having definite school health policies. It is mandatory to ensure that school health programmes are based on formally assessed and evidence- based practice.
The group of companies coming together for the programme is also organising a conference this Sunday focusing on both scientific and social aspects of child health.
Meanwhile the study noted that apart from nutrition and exercise related issues other aspects of child health also need to be taken into account. Of particular concern is the high incidence of infectious diseases.
“Incorporating specific interventions in school health policies must not only be related to nutrition and exercise but must also be aimed at containing the spread of infectious diseases. This can be achieved by emphasising on elementary measures like personal hygiene, cleanliness and hand washing,'' said All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Head of the Centre for Community Medicine, Dr. C. S. Pandav.
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