DUBAI — The health and lifestyle of students in schools and colleges will soon come under the scanner following an official decision to "study and improve" the general health of youngsters in the emirate.
As a first step towards this goal, Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will soon develop a database of children in the emirate's schools and identify particular health issues.
This is the first time officials are working together to improve the lifestyle and health of students.
Similarly, KHDA's newly-formed Higher Education Agency will also meet DHA officials to discuss health problems usually affecting college students.
Authorities also plan to raise awareness among students on healthy living.
Once the database is created and a general health study is completed, officials will decide the next course of action, including examining the food habits of students.
The CEO of KHDA's School Agency, Fatma Al Marri, noted that as part of its Physical Education programmes, the agency was already studying the food served in school canteens.
KHDA chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General Dr Abdulla Al Karam who met with DHA Director- General Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid at a recent meeting, said, "It is important that authorities partner in this way, as we are all heading in the same direction. We all want to make every aspect of life in Dubai as good as it can possibly be."
He added that this decision was in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015.
Al Murooshid said, "These proposals are aimed at enhancing the overall health of the society. DHA is going on with its efforts and programmes to enhance and speed up the growth and development process of the healthcare sector, to create an overall change in the concept of healthcare, and to achieve a standard of medical care and services to match international standards."
By Preeti Kannan (Our staff reporter)