434 of the Foundation’s Student ‘Health Monitors’ from Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Jaipur raise their voice for a healthier, brighter future.
Mumbai, 4th February, 2021: On the occasion of World Cancer Day, 20,000 student beneficiaries of Salaam Bombay Foundation’s (SBF) Preventive Health Programme participated in the Foundation’s 15th Student Health Assembly. The Assembly created on the lines of the Model United Nations (MUN) in private schools, was held virtually and on a national scale for the first time. A unique platform, the Assembly provided student leaders from SBF’s advocacy and leadership forums (Bal Parishad and Bal Panchayat) the opportunity to directly ask policy makers and stakeholders crucial questions pertaining to health, nutrition and mental well-being with a special focus on the ongoing pandemic. The event was attended by a panel of eminent dignitaries including Dr. Krishna Methekar – Deputy Director, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI, Govt. of India; Mr. Pravin Patil – (I.P.S.) DCP, Maharashtra Police Department; Ms. Sanghmitra Tribhuvan – Deputy Director, Education Department, Maharashtra; Dr. Padmaja Jogewar – Joint Director, Nodal Officer, Public Health Dept. Maharashtra and Ms. Manasi Gokhale – Manager, Outreach & Content, MpowerMinds.
Speaking about the event, Tshering D. Bhutia – Vice President, Projects (Preventive Health & Research), Salaam Bombay Foundation said, “The Student Health Assembly is an imperative initiative curated ‘by the students for the students’ from government and government-aided schools where Salaam Bombay Foundation runs its programmes. The interaction provides for a thought provoking exchange of ideas facilitating a much needed dialogue between student representatives and government stakeholders resulting in effective change at both policy and community level. Through such initiatives the Preventive Health Programme provides guidance to students while boosting their confidence and self-esteem, enabling them to transform into change agents for their communities. Through the programme, students have the opportunity to explore their full potential by working with lawmakers, media and communities.”
The questions asked by the ‘Health Monitors’ at the event were a result of their learnings from a survey conducted as part of their community outreach. ‘Health Monitors’ are young student ambassadors who are part of SBF’s Project ‘KHANA’ – a Project on School Based Health and Nutrition. With an aim to improve the nutritional status of children from municipal schools, this programme goes beyond educating students on the importance of proper nutrition, and encourages them to become ambassadors of healthy practices within their community. These student leaders are encouraged to promote amongst their peers the importance of proper nutrition, recipes for balanced meals with affordable and easily available ingredients, the ill-effects of junk food, the role of hygiene in nutrition and the significance of physical exercises.
Additionally, the Foundation’s Preventive Health Programme has actively reached out to its student beneficiaries during the ongoing pandemic, providing them with insights on the importance of immunity boosting foods, micro-greens and kitchen gardening through online sessions.
Since 2007, SBF’s forums such as the Bal Panchayat and Bal Parishad have been providing government school students the opportunity to raise their voice and initiate action on various issues that affect their health and well-being. Through these activities, students who are also part of the Foundation’s In-School Preventive Health Programme develop a network of peer advocates and share strategies for change in their communities. Select school members of the Bal Panchayat go on to form the Bal Parishad which meets policymakers every year. The policymakers include senior government officials from various departments.
