As part of the “Healthy Schools” Program, the Health Promotion Department, HPD, at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, recently organized in cooperation with Sharjah Police a virtual lecture titled “security and health precautions and measures”.
The lecture aims to raise awareness of community members about the importance of remaining committed to the precautionary and preventive measures taken by the UAE to counter COVID-19 pandemic and maintain the health and safety of everyone.
Moderated by Lt. Col. Jasim Al-Suwaidi, and Lt. Sarah Al-Zarouni, Sharjah Police, and the participation of 320 participants, the lecture highlighted the role of the precautionary measures taken by the UAE to curb COVID-19 pandemic and reduce infection rates, in addition to stressing the importance of remaining committed to such measures, especially with the gradual return to normal life.
Updating standards of Healthy Schools Program
Her Excellency Iman Rashid Saif, Director, HPD, underlined the Department’s commitment to the success of Healthy Schools Program by aligning the program standards with the developments of the global health crisis and the preventive measures and precautionary measures taken, in addition to raising awareness of students, parents, and the teaching staff in schools about the importance of implementing and adhering to health measures to protect themselves and their children from COVID-19 infection.
“Healthy Schools Program includes specific assessment criteria, such as school buildings, and the catchment area, with a particular focus on the physical activity, proper nutrition, mental health, non-communicable disease prevention, smoke-free schools, emergency preparedness and response, in addition to other standards that focus on the health and safety of children and adolescents in schools in Sharjah,” she explained.
Thanking Sharjah Police for the positive cooperation in organizing this lecture, the HPD Director commended the tremendous efforts made by Sharjah Police as an integral part of the first line of defense, pointing out that this cooperation comes as part of the bilateral MoU signed to help achieve the standards of Healthy Schools Program in Sharjah, enhance communication between institutions, individuals and society to achieve a healthy school environment, improve public health levels for individuals and workers in society, and spread awareness in the community about the importance of implementing Healthy Schools Program in the emirate of Sharjah as a healthy city.
Commitment to preventive measures
The lecturer Lt. Col. Jasim Al-Suwaidi said: “Every one of us has to be fully aware that the gradual return to normal life does not mean the end of COVID-19 pandemic or the complacency in implementing the preventive measures. On the contrary, we have to shoulder our responsibility and to remain committed to preventive measures and to make them a lifestyle.”
Al-Suwaidi stressed the importance of obtaining information from official sources and not to listen to rumors, especially those related to the nature of the precautionary measures.
In the same vein, the lecturer Lt. Sarah Al-Zarouni shed light on the most important preventive measures that community members have to adopt at home or work. This includes avoiding family gatherings, washing and sanitizing hands regularly, following healthy lifestyles to boost the immune system, wearing face masks and gloves at workplaces, keeping a safe distancing with co-workers, avoiding overcrowded places, and avoiding the use of others’ items.
