Government of Nepal, in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO), Country Office for Nepal, initiated yoga and non-communicable diseases prevention activities in schools for healthy citizenry.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases, are some of the leading causes of deaths in Nepal. Increasing sedentary behavior; tobacco and alcohol use; unhealthy diets; and lack of physical activity are primary causes for the rise.
Considering these facts, some schools in Nepal have introduced yoga in schools as an extra-curricular activity to strengthen physical and mental well-being of students in their daily lives.
“Embracing physical activities, such as yoga, is embracing a lifestyle that can yield multiple health benefits.”, states Dr. Jos Vandelaer, WHO Representative to Nepal.
Health benefits of a physically active lifestyle during adolescence improves cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness; bone and cardiometabolic health; with positive effects on weight. There is also growing evidence that physical activity has a positive impact on cognitive development and socializing, where many of these benefits continue into adulthood.
To achieve these benefits, WHO recommends adolescents to conduct moderate or vigorous physical activity for an hour or more each day.
WHO, Country Office for Nepal, as part of its support for prevention and control of NCDs in Nepal, engaged with the Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine (DoAA), to initiate such activities as a pilot program in few schools, with plans to scale up. DoAA also developed training modules, oriented primary and secondary level school teachers to facilitate yoga sessions, and assigned a focal person representing each school to document the progress and inform DoAA with systematic evaluations.
Ministry of Health and Population has also committed to expanding public health programs for control and prevention of NCDs by endorsing the Multisectoral Action Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs (2014–2020) , which highlights the importance of NCDs risk mitigation and appropriate management of NCDs through engagement with various sectors, which are within and outside the health sector.
Additionally, information on Ayurveda; medicinal value of spices and herbs; advantages of proper sleep and diet; was also taught to students and teachers.
“This is the right time to raise more awareness, especially with children, and schools settings provide a window of opportunity for health promotion and prevention of exposure to NCD risk factors”, continues Dr. Dr. Khurshid Alam Hyder, Public Health Administrator,WHO, Country Office for Nepal, “A young, healthy population will result in an overall, healthier citizenry in the future.”
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