Healthy way is the Wealthy way: World Health Day 7th April 2010

HEALTH FOR ALL - the urban rich and the not-so-rich

The global goals of the campaign '1000 cities, 1000 lives' during the week of 7 – 11 April 2010 are:

• 1000 cities: to open up public spaces to health, whether it be activities in parks, town hall meetings, clean-up campaigns, or closing off portions of streets to motorized vehicles.
• 1000 lives: to collect 1000 stories of urban health champions who have taken action and had a significant impact on health in their cities.

Nearly 40% of the world population lives in cities. There is a steady migration of people from rural to urban areas because of the perceived notion that cities provide better opportunities. As a result, there are a number of health hazards such as substandard housing, overcrowding, inadequate sanitation and solid waste disposal and increased vehicular traffic. This leads to incidences of smoking, alcohol and drug abuse.

There exists a need to provide healthcare facilities in different areas of cities wherein all sections of society can have access to basic healthcare.

SAVE OUR CHILDREN FROM

• Academic Stress
• Little time for Exercise
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Peer pressure to take alcohol
• Drug abuse
• Propensity  to smoking

HEALTHY  DIET

1. Eggs are the richest source of protein. They give you more energy than milk, mutton and fish. They are rich in Vitamins A, B, D and E  that keep you healthy and active.
2. Green vegetables like spinach, lettuce, beans are packed with calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, vitamins A, C, E and K, and they help strengthen the blood and respiratory systems.
3. Fruit provides fibre, vitamins and antioxidants. Berries are cancer-fighting, apples provide fibre, oranges and mangos provide vitamin C
4. Include a variety of whole grains in your healthy diet, including whole wheat, brown rice, millet, and barley.  Also try mixing grains.

MY  BREAKFAST - AN  ACTIVITY  WITH  VII A

The activity - My Breakfast - may seem to teachers around the Globe too simplistic for a 13 year old child.  But taking into consideration the fact that our children are first generation learners , most of whom start picking up English in Class VI, this exercise seemed fair enough for the class on World Health Day. A  complex topic could have  taken them away from the objectives of the day.

World Health Day 2010 will be celebrated on 7th April 2010. This year the focus is on urbanization and health. With the campaign "1000 cities - 1000 lives", events will be organized worldwide calling on cities to open up streets for health activities.

Cities across the globe will open public spaces for cycling and walking, outdoor concerts, health forums or clean-up campaigns. Stories of urban health champions will be gathered to illustrate what people are doing to improve health in their cities.

In Delhi Government schools, the aim of educators is to educate children about the general principles of health and hygiene, immunization against diseases, maternal and child health, benefits of small child norms, preventive communicable diseases like H1N1 flu, Chikungunia, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Malaria etc.

The awareness would be created through debates, essay writing, poster making, slogan writing and also by inviting doctors to have an interactive sessions with the students.

1. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

• A walk a day keeps the doctor away.
• Fruits and vegetables are the best protective medicine.
• Bring humour and laughter into your life.

2.  HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT HEALTHY YOU

• Recycle waste
• Stop wasting water
• Stop electrical wastage
• Plant trees
• Stop using polybags

3. SAY NO TO JUNK FOOD

• Say no for your health.
• Say no for your wallet.
• Ask youself the question, "Why do you eat?" Is it for pleasure or for fuel?

4. DO YOU WANT DEATH ? AVOID SMOKING

• There is no taste, no fun and no adventure in smoking cigarettes.
• Every 6.5 seconds a person in the world dies due to cancer, heart attack and respiratory diseases.
• The tobacco is the fourth most common risk factor for diseases worldwide.

• Its bad for your body.

• It affects your appearance.

• It leaves a bad smell.

• It is a hazard to others - your spouse and children.

5. FITTER YOU FITTER ME : EXERCISE REGULARLY

• Monitor your weight - Most of our health problems are related to weight gain.
• Repercussions of weight gain - Fatty liver, High cholestrol, high BP, Diabetes, Thyroid.
• Change your lifestyle - Exercise and healthy food will keep the body fat in balance.

6. LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

• It strengthens your immune system.
• It boosts your energy.
• It diminishes pain.
• It protects you from the damaging effects of stress.
• It inspires hopes.
• It connects you to others.

7. SAY NO TO DRUGS

• Say yes to Life.
• Drugs lead to prison, homelessness, serious medical problems, and even death.
• Resist peer pressure.
• Associate with people who do not use drugs.
• Look at the list of successful people who have been killed by drugs.
• Forgive yourself if you feel you have made a mistake by trying drugs.
• Remember that the future is full of hope and promise.
• Develop an interesting hobby.
• Bond with your family members.

8. SAY NO TO ALCOHOL

• It ages you by making you look older than you really are.
• Many people have lost their lives because someone was driving drunk.
• Drinking means

              a.     a man with slurred speech,

              b.     a man staggering from one side to the other,

              c.     a man than falling down to the ground flat on his face.

• Drinking alcohol causes many health problems such as,

  a.    vitamin deficiency,

  b.    skin problems,

  c.    obesity, stroke,

  d.    high blood pressure,

  e.    heart disease,

  f.     cirrhosis of the liver,

  g.    cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and larnyx.