Doha, March 07 -The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) on Wednesday launched the new program ” We Are Healthy Kids”, to cover all the independent schools in Qatar for this year. In a press conference held here on today, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Bin Jassim Al-Thani, the Director of the department of Public Health in the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) said,” We welcome the program “we are healthy kids”, that is organized by the Health Promotion and Non communicable Disease in the department of Public Health in the Supreme Council of Health under the auspices of Maersk Oil Company and Qatar Foundation and in the collaboration with the Primary Health Care Corporation and the Supreme Education Council. “This Program has been implemented during the previous two years in a number of independent primary schools while in this year 2012-2013, it will be applied in all primary independent schools with certain changes according to the results of the final evaluation of the program last year”, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani told reporters. Elaborating the Director of the department of Public Health in the (SCH) said,” This program is considered as a national project as it is implemented through aiming to develop the Qatari society and it is also considered a strong pillar of health promotion in Qatar“. “In this regard I extend my sincere thanks to all our partners: the Supreme Education Council and all the schools that participated in the implementation of the program the past two years, and special thanks to our sponsors Maersk Oil company and Qatar Foundation and we hope to continue their support and help in the upcoming years”, he concluded. For her part, Dr. Sheikha Al-Anoud Bint Mohammed Al Thani, the director of health promotion and non-communicable disease in the Department of Public Health at the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) said,” We are Healthy Kids Program” is implemented by health promotion and non-communicable disease in the Department of Public Health at the Supreme Council of Health. Welcoming all for attending the press conference for the program “we are healthy kids” in its third year, she said, “The overall aim of the program, is adapting healthy life style by fifth-graders at the primary level through increasing their health awareness about the importance of these patterns such as the selection of food and healthy beverage and physical activity in school and outside schools and at home and encouraging them to practicing these healthy behaviors”. The director of health promotion and non-communicable disease in the Department of Public Health at the (SCH) further said,” The program was piloted in 2010-2011 in 15 schools and in 35 schools during 2011-2012, while this year it will be implemented in all primary Independent schools in Qatar. Elaborating she said,” The program is updated based on results of the final evaluation of the last years and all feedback and suggestions that were raised by the participating schools. It is noted that the program consist of eight weeks and each week has its own theme: First week, “your health and your diet”; Second week “healthy snacks”; Third week “Water and health” Fourth week: “Choose your favorite sport”; Fifth week “healthy sleeping”; Sixth Week: “your food and the health of your teeth”; Seventh Week “Tobacco free life”; Lastly; Eighth Week “Confident steps towards change”: “I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to all our partners SEC and the primary health care corporation (PHCC)and all schools that participated in the program”, said Dr. Sheikha Al-Anoud Bint Mohammed Al Thani. She went on to say, “Special thanks to Maersk Oil company and Qatar Foundation for their efforts in sponsoring this program. Also, I thank all the staff of health promotion and non-communicable disease who participate in implementing the program”, concluded Sheikha Al-Anoud Bint Mohammed Al Thani. source:QatarChronicle

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