Newsletter no. 1, May 2022
Dear
On 28th of February we finalized the implementation of the first year of the project “Shkollat për Shëndetin”. This newsletter includes the activities conducted during the period 1st of March 2021 – 28th of February 2022. We are grateful to all our partners, children, teachers, parents and communities for all what we reached together. Hopefully, during the second year of the project, we will continue to reach more community members and children and discuss with them about health.
We invite you to read the main achievements of our first year.
Best regards
The team of the project “Shkollat për Shëndetin”
New Action Plans on Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Promotion
Projekti “Shkollat për Shëndetin” contributed to revision of the old action plans on non-communicable diseases (NCDs, 2016-2020) and Health Promotion (2017-2021). Afterwards, the new Action Plan on Health Promotion (2022-2030) and the Action Plan on NCDs (2021-2030) were developed based on the conclusions and recommendations of the respective evaluation reports. Both documents will be endorsed by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MoHSP). In addition, two policy briefs were prepared in order to reach wider audiences and communities such as: experts and individuals involved in NCDs control and prevention, policy makers, other professionals, as well as community members at large.
Review of primary and secondary education curricula on health topics
The existing teaching curricula for schoolchildren aged 6-16 years was comprehensively reviewed identifying the teaching and learning gaps related to healthy behaviours/lifestyle practices. The revision included subjects as physical and health education, biology, and civic education on health topics related to food and nutrition, physical activity, sexual and reproductive health, no use of substances (tobacco, alcohol, drugs), mental health and wellbeing, bullying including cyberbullying, injuries and child safety in general, domestic violence, hygiene and sanitation, waste management, and environmental health in general.
Strengthening capacities of school staff and Health Promotion Specialists at local level
153 teachers, 218 school health personnel and 44 health promotion specialists were trained on the five training modules designed by the project (healthy nutrition, physical activity, mental health, sexual transmitted infections, personal hygiene and prevention of transmitted diseases), the Icelandic model of health promotion and on how to deliver healthy lifestyle messages to children in order they improve their knowledge and skills regarding health issues. A training of trainers was organized in each region in order empowered teachers and health promotion specialists train their peer through a cascade model.
Health Caravan
The “Health Caravan” campaign aimed at delivering healthy lifestyle messages in an attractive manner. Participation of children and their parents/caregivers in these health promotion activities contributes to improve in a natural context the interaction between them regarding healthy lifestyle practices. “Health Caravan” visited 30 communities engaging children in: organization of food fairs; conveying important messages for healthy nutrition; carrying out activities related to a clean environment. Overall, the campaign reached 7447 people, out of which 7258 were children, 141 teachers and 48 parents.
Celebrities’ Campaign
The celebrity’s advocacy campaign brought into the national TV and local TV stations of Korça, Elbasan and Kukës the sport champion Gjergj Muzaka (well-known professional football player of the National Team and the best Albanian football teams) who provided encouraging messages for children in order they participate more in sport activities and act to have a healthy lifestyle. During the spot he stressed that“In sports we are all winners regardless of the result. Whoever plays sports is a person with a stronger personality and discipline, is more tolerant, more social, more active and happier and healthier”.Furthermore, the spot was present in TV stations 402 times and the estimated audience was approximately 250.000 people.
Contribution towards COVID-19 control and prevention
The project supported all 30 schools targeted for intervention in the first year (in the regions of Elbasan, Kukës and Korça) with anti-COVID materials including disinfectants and face masks (for both children and school staff), as well as gloves (for adults only). Along with provision of protective materials, schoolchildren and teachers were taught/ instructed regarding the importance of handwashing, use of disinfectants, compliance with the physical distance requirements, and correct use of face masks for personal protection.
This way, 11,132 school children (5,965 boys and 5,427 girls) and 840 teachers (178 men and 652 women) were reached. Also, 27 informative sessions were organized with parents on the preventive measures against COVID-19.
Contribution towards social inclusion of vulnerable communities, rural areas, children/parents with disabilities are families belonging to economic aid scheme
ince the begging of the project, it was emphasised the importance of social inclusion. Therefore, all schools selected for in depth interventions included schools of urban, peri-urban and rural areas. The selected schools belonged to vulnerable communities as Roma, Egyptian or in poor areas. All project interventions aimed at increasing the social inclusion and fostered the participation of vulnerable communities. The engagement of local NGOs in the project activities helped in identifying the communities in need.
Overall, during the first year of implementation, the project reached 5’748 vulnerable people out of which 5’257 were vulnerable children::
- 1’356 Roma and Egyptian children
- 3682 children coming from families belonging to economic aid scheme
- 219 disabled children
Cleaning sessions and waste management activities in 30 schools
Cleaning sessions raised awareness among school children on the importance of a cleaned environment in general and waste management in particular. Overall, 352 children (129 boys and 223 girls) took part in joint activities with their parents and teachers to clean school premises, school surroundings, or selected parts of the neighbourhoods/communities (recreational parks, spaces for leisure-time activities). Beside teachers and children, 55 parents participated in the joined activities (48 women and 7 men).
Digital Tools developed during the first year of the project
During the first year of the project implementation several digital (online) applications for children, school staff and parents were developed:
- “Corona” – Provides information on prevention of COVID-19 to schoolchildren aged 6-16 years.
- “No-to-sugar” – The application guides the users how to reduce consumption of sugar.
- “Post-my-food” – Provides information on healthy eating.
- “Step-to-health” – Fosters physical activity and provides concrete age-customized examples of exercises/activities that children can/should engage in.
- “Special kids” - dedicated to children with special needs and their families
- E-learning platform - Offers online training for teachers and health promotion specialities
- Knowledge platform - Online library of all project products
All applications are user friendly, secured and free from advertisements. These apps are very useful tools to be used by kids, parents, teachers and as well, are a good source of interactive information. play store The applications are available in play store and offer interactive learning games for children. Please click the link to download them:
https://shkollatpershendetin.al/shkarko-aplikacionet-2/
