Sharjah24: The Health Promotion Department at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, in collaboration with UNICEF, has initiated the "Suhbati (Companionship) 2023" program. This program is designed to train a select group of adolescents in fundamental health principles and equip them with the necessary skills to become health ambassadors. Its main objective is to empower these adolescents to cultivate and promote healthy habits, while combating detrimental health practices and ensuring public safety. The program follows the "peer education" approach, a globally recognised teaching method that facilitates knowledge transfer among individuals who share similar levels of communication, thinking, and acceptance of advice. Peers have a stronger influence on behaviour change compared to teachers or parents.
The program covers topics such as the importance of responsible shopping, meal preparation, and mindful food choices.
Her Excellency Iman Rashid Saif, Director of the Department, inaugurated the program. In her address to the participants, she urged them to embrace healthy lifestyles and emphasised the program's goal of creating awareness and developing health ambassadors who can inspire their peers and families. She recognised the participants as pivotal forces behind productivity and development.
The program entails nine theoretical and practical training workshops. These workshops focus on nutrition principles, calorie intake calculation methods, and understanding vital signs like blood pressure, pulse rate, heart rate, body temperature, and blood sugar levels.
Moreover, the program will host a meeting and session with experts from UNICEF and UNICEF youth ambassadors. This session aims to facilitate discussions on crucial health topics that directly affect young individuals. The overarching vision is for Sharjah to evolve into a healthy and child-friendly city, free from diseases, aligning with the visions and directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.
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