Tarih: 06.02.2025
The introductory meeting of the "Healthy Life Healthy School ” project, initiated in cooperation with Lokman Hekim University, Gülhane Training and Research Hospital and Sincan District Health Directorate, was held on February 6, 2025 at Lokman Hekim University A Block -1st floor conference hall. While project stakeholders and representatives of relevant institutions attended the meeting, it was emphasized that the project will provide important gains in both education and health. The project draws attention with its multi-faceted goals such as raising awareness of teachers about health, expanding preventive health services and improving the quality of life.
Teachers and students were selected as the target group in the project. It was stated that teachers are role models for students and are in an important position to raise them as healthy individuals. In this direction, it was stated that the long-term goals of the project include improving the health status of teachers and students, preventing possible health problems and combating non-communicable diseases.
In his opening speech,Rector Prof. Dr. Fatih Gültekin drew attention to the importance of the project for public health: "This project brings together the four main goals of our university: education, health service delivery, research and social contribution. It is a big step in strengthening primary health care services and raising public health awareness. The work carried out by our teachers, especially in schools, will form a solid foundation for raising healthy generations."
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Berna Dursun emphasized the importance of raising awareness of teachers about health: "Our teachers are important role models in society. Improving their health and ensuring that they effectively benefit from preventive health services will both improve their own quality of life and set an example for their students. Screenings and early interventions within the scope of the project will make a great contribution to preventing common health problems."
Yaşar Koçak,Ankara Provincial Director of National Education, stated that the project is an exemplary model in terms of education and health cooperation and said: "The health of our teachers and their awareness on this issue will directly reflect on our education quality. This project will pioneer the establishment of a healthy life culture in our schools."
Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dr. Mehmet Altuğ drew attention to the importance of protecting health and mentioned that the World Health Organization (WHO) defines health with the concept of "wellness ”: "Being healthy is not only the absence of disease, but also a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. When health is lost, the effort and energy spent to regain it is much more than the effort spent to maintain it. Therefore, our project is a great opportunity to protect and strengthen public health."
Ankara MP Asuman Erdoğan emphasized the social contribution dimension of the project: "A healthy society is possible with healthy individuals. This project is of great importance, especially in terms of disseminating preventive health services and preventing diseases. I would like to thank everyone who contributed."
In the project, combating non-communicable diseases, which are increasing in the world and in Turkey, has been identified as one of the priority targets. It is aimed to provide screening and early diagnosis services for common health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension and obesity through primary health care institutions. In the first step of the project, health screenings for teachers and intervention planning will be carried out according to the results of these screenings.
In line with the data obtained as a result of the screenings, various awareness-raising and health promotion activities will be organized for students. Awareness will be raised on issues such as healthy nutrition, physical activity and mental health, and a culture of healthy living will be promoted in society.
While the pilot project is being implemented in Ankara's Sincan district, it is aimed to set an example for the whole of Turkey and to expand the project across the country. The Healthy Life Healthy School Project aims to protect public health and lead a permanent change in the field of education.
