1100 students participated in Webinar on Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Generation Saviour Association, in partnership with The Union, Hriday, MACT and Vital Strategies conducted webinar on Health, Safety and Wellbeing of Children and Youth wherein 1100 students from various schools and colleges of India participated. Ms Opinder Preet Kaur Gill, Director Programs, Generation Saviour Association, which is a non profit organisation working in public health since two decades, welcoming the children and youth participants said that the webinar is an eye opener to the lifestyle young students are indulging in and how they can make changes in their life to live a healthy life ahead. She said, “There is a need that problems of children should be addressed by not just their parents and teachers but by society at large”.
Dr Rana J Singh, Deputy Director, International Union for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases said, “The formative years in the life of a child are very important. This stage is life helps determine the future of a person. Therefore it is necessary that importance to a child’s health is given. Health does not only limit to physical well being but is a holistic growth that includes and is not limited to safety, mental wellbeing, safety in home and environment, learning skills, empowerment and economic wellbeing.”
Dr Mira B Aghi, Behaviour Scientist who is also the Winner of Luther L. Terry Award addressing the children and parents said, “Many children take up to substance abuse especially smoking often due to peer pressure. Also one of the one reason for doing so is the use of tobacco products by parents themselves, in front of their children. The best way to ask your children not to smoke is quit smoking yourself”. Adding to it, Ms Vaishakhi Mallik, Associate Director, Vital Strategies adding to it pointed out “The tobacco industry through its advertisement and promotional activities is able to lure children and youth.”
Dr Monika Arora, Executive Director, HRIDAY speaking about obesity said, “It is yet another issue that is faced by 15% of children in India. One of the major reason for obesity in junk food that is deprived of essential nutrients. Child nutrition directly impacts a children’s success, both academically and socially. School lunches and breakfast together account for nearly half of the daily calories consumed by students. Therefore, it is not only the duty of parents but schools and
educational institutes to provide wholesome food to children.”.
The session was coordinated by the youth wing of the Generation Saviour Association that is a voluntary group of children from various educational institutes. This was the first session of the webinar and specifically focussed on health. Two more sessions shall be held on 23 rd and 30 th June on Safety and Wellbeing respectively, wherein experts across India shall interact with children from schools and colleges across India.