Be Healthy
About 28.25 per cent of India’s population is under 14 years of age. Among children, the learning process begins immediately after birth. In fact, before a child turns six, 85 percent of cumulative brain development takes place. It only shows the importance of appropriate care and stimulation of the brain in the child’s early years. The educational sector plays a vital role in promoting the development of children and providing them with a healthy future. However, a recent study of urban schools found that a large number of kids suffer from health issues such as high BMI, vision loss, ENT problems and poor hygiene. With a growing population of 192 million children of school-going age, ensuring students’ health will stand to benefit nearly a fifth of India’s population. School administrations across the country have come under increasing scrutiny to ensure that pupils are not burdened with studies at the cost of their health. The collaboration between health and education sectors has been instrumental in creating broad parameters for health-related school policies; creating a supportive school environment; and impacting behaviour among the school children. The focus on health in school children covers a broad range of issues pertaining to mental health, gender health and nutrition.