Sharjah24: The Health Promotion Department, under the jurisdiction of the Sharjah Supreme Council for Family Affairs, recently convened a meeting to elucidate the criteria governing the Enhanced School Health Programme. Attended by the department's director and representatives from various collaborating and supporting bodies, the session commenced with a warm welcome from Ms. Iman Rashid Saif, the Director of the Health Education Department. She provided an overview of the department's multifaceted initiatives geared towards community-wide health education, notably including the Enhanced School Health Programme.

Saif proceeded to outline the programme's timeline and elucidate the assessment tools to be employed to ensure the programme's objectives are met. A detailed exposition of the programme's standards ensued, accompanied by deliberations on the evaluation process, underscored by the commitment to conduct weekly field visits to participating schools to ensure ongoing compliance and effective implementation of the established standards.

Furthermore, the meeting delved into the specific requirements of the programme, emphasising the vital role of student, parental, and community involvement in identifying and addressing pertinent health concerns and formulating actionable plans. The importance of engaging with school faculty and students, as well as ensuring the readiness of participating schools to devise plans for parents and stakeholders at the school level, was underscored as part of fostering collaborative partnerships.

In her reflections, the Director of the Health Promotion Department expressed her satisfaction with the gathering, noting its alignment with the esteemed directives and visionary aspirations of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Supreme Council for Family Affairs. She lauded Her Highness's steadfast commitment to prioritising the physical and mental well-being of students, thereby equipping them with the requisite skills and resilience to navigate the future and foster comprehensive societal prosperity.

Expressing appreciation for the collaborative efforts of all participating entities, including the World Health Organization and various government bodies and authorities, the meeting featured an in-depth discussion of the programme's criteria, encompassing governmental policies, educational resources, governance structures, leadership dynamics, and the crucial nexus between schools and communities. The pivotal role of nurturing a conducive social, emotional, and material school environment, alongside the provision of comprehensive school health services, was underscored as integral components of the programme's overarching objectives.

In conclusion, sincere gratitude was extended to all stakeholders for their active engagement, with avenues for further inquiry opened to comprehensively address the programme's needs and facilitate its seamless execution.