21 students learn the art of healthy heart
dubai — A total of 21 students from Al Mawakeb School in Al Barsha completed the pilot phase of the ‘Heart Experts’ programme organised by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap).
Dr Youssef Mohammed Al Serkal, assistant undersecretary for the hospitals sector at the ministry and chairman of the executive committee of national indicators of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, said the students were trained to promote heart-healthy lifestyles and identify the local and global magnitude of cardiovascular disease.
“The programme also introduced educational principles that contribute to changing negative behaviours and practices,” Al Serkal said.
Dr Al Serkal pointed out that the ministry has several programmes that serve the national indicators of cardiovascular diseases, including the Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) screening programme for all newborns, which uses artificial intelligence techniques.
A total of 5,877 students were diagnosed since the launch of the programme in August 2018 with a compliance rate of 98.5 per cent.
Other programmes include the ‘safe hearts’, which targets students in the primary stages and provide early detection services for cardiac-related risk factors. All of these initiatives aim to promote a supportive environment for cardiovascular health in schools.
Dr Mona Al Kuwari, director of the specialised healthcare department, said the Heart Experts third phase provided students with training on basic principles of cardiovascular health, the success keys towards building physical and personal self through healthy lifestyles and how to implement psycho-education principles and methods in order to change unhealthy habits.
A team of students has set a short and long-term plan to spread concepts and change the surrounding environment, guided by the instructions and support of the ministry’s team. The final stage included honouring the participating students and endorsing them as a reference for their peers in other educational institutions, she added.