First day of the 8^th Sehati (My Health) Conference included series of virtual discussions regrading an array of health issues including preventive measures being followed, along with modalities to boot physical and nutritional health among children and young people.

The event will continue until November 26 and is organized by the Health Promotion Department (HPD) under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.

The inaugural session was moderated by Dr Ibtihal Fadhil, Chairperson of the Eastern Mediterranean NCD Alliance. The session discussed two working papers presented by Dr Muhadditha Al Hashimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Private Education Authority, and Dr Dalia Samhouri, Regional Emergency Director, WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

Back to schools amid Covid-19: The first panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Amina Almarzooqi, A/Dean College of Health Sciences at the University of Sharjah, and it discussed three working papers presented by and Dr Ayoub Al Jawaldeh, Regional Adviser in Nutrition, WHO, Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranian Region - NCDs Department and Dr. Ahmed Mohammad Abdul Malik, Family Medicine Consultant, Kuwait, and Dr. Osama Kamel Ali Al Alla, Sports Health Specialist, Sports Abu Dhabi Council.

During the session, Dr Dalia Samhouri, Regional Emergency Director, WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, reviewed important measures that must be practiced to make safe return to educational institutions possible. Meanwhile, Dr Muhadditha Al Hashimi reviewed the experiences from different crises in Sharjah schools, the nutritional challenges for children and adolescents and how to tackle them, and ways to adopt a healthy diet so as to raise body's immunity and prevent disease.

Promoting children’s health: The second session, with theme of “Promoting the physical and nutritional health of children and adolescents”, discussed the nutritional challenges faced by children and adolescents along with the pros and cons of dietary supplements. Dr Ayoub Al Jawaldeh stressed on the importance of following a healthy and balanced diet by young people to strengthen immunity and protection from diseases.

Dr. Ahmed Abdul Malik stressed on the importance of dietary supplements as per doctors’ prescription and not randomly to avoid any side effects. Dr. Osama Al Alla gave a presentation that highlighted the importance of exercising and its role in building immunity for young people.

Further topics that will be discussed in conference include ways to promote physical, nutritional and psychological health of children and adolescents, mechanisms to create a healthy environment for distance learning, and the importance of vaccines to fight infectious diseases. The event will also highlight chronic, rheumatic, and cardiovascular diseases among young people, and their treatment and prevention methods.

WAM