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Dubai, UAE: The Dubai Health Authority has launched the school health policy for the Emirate of Dubai with an aim to create a safe, healthy and motivating school environment for pupils.
The comprehensive policy has three main key components: disease prevention and early detection, health information and research systems and encouraging students to lead a healthy lifestyle.
As part of the strategy, the authority will launch 12 programs based on these three components that are applicable for private schools in the Emirate.
The 12 programs include: a program to encourage students to eat five portions of vegetables and fruits a day, a program to increase physical activity to 150 minutes a week, compliance with the essential immunization program, an awareness and screening program about non-communicable diseases, dental, visual and obesity early-detection program, health supervision program according to DHA standards. A program that entails building a database system and an integrated health information systems through HASANA and the student’s electronic file, school health services accreditation program, school health research and studies program, unified school infrastructure program, unification of emergency and disaster safety procedures program and a program to unify and circulate a psychological counseling support plan.
By implementing these programs the DHA aims to increase fruit and vegetable intake among students aged 7-15 years-old, encourage healthier food consumption, increase physical activity amongst students aged 7-15 years-old and decrease obesity amongst students aged 7-15 years old – in line with Dubai plan 2021& UAE vision 2021
Dr Manal Al Taryam, CEO of Primary Healthcare Sector at the DHA, said: “A holistic school health environment is needed to protect children and bring out the best in them. We designed this policy after carefully considering all these factors. We have worked with various governmental authorities in the UAE to jointly design a truly comprehensive school health policy,”
Dr Nahed Monsef, Director of Health Affairs Department at the DHA “Immunization is an important way of protecting children from some illnesses – including those that suddenly become a bigger threat.”
Dr Monsef, added: “While the Authority already in place several initiatives, a wider five-year policy will be extremely comprehensive. concentrating on 3 major themes which are: healthy lifestyle promotion, disease prevention & early detection and strengthening the health informatics system. The policy was developed in collaboration of our strategic stakeholders such as Ministry of Health & prevention, Ministry of Education, KHDA, Dubai Municipality, Dubai sport council including parents as and the community.
Dr Ayesha Al Theeb from the school health department at the DHA said: “For a successful school health policy, we need to ensure all stakeholders including parents and staff truly understand the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.”
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For further information, please contact:
Mahmoud Al Ali
Head of Media
Dubai Health Authority
+9714 219 7260
Kamakshi Gupta and Noor Nazzal
Communications Analysts- Media Dept.
Dubai Health Authority
Klgupta@dha.gov.ae NNNazzal@dha.gov.ae
+9714 2197455
About the Dubai Health Authority:
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami is the Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority.
The DHA’s aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA’s mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.
In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.
The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff. It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.
Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.
© Press Release 2018
