Mass Cleaning Campaign

Among the many health activities held at Darla School, the mass cleaning campaign is one of the most important. On April 28th, the school conducted such a campaign. Afternoon classes were canceled, and students and teachers gathered on the assembly ground. The campaign began with the distribution of assigned areas for Classes IV through V. The theme was made loud and clear to everyone: “Clean Darla, Clean Bhutan. Clean Bhutan, Clean Earth.”

Students and teachers walked to the farthest points of the area, singing the theme and encouraging parents to come out and join the cleaning. Members of the health club wore signs on their chests and backs with various messages written on them.

The mass cleaning campaign covered the town and villages of Darla. Many classes and teachers went as far as three kilometers from the school to clean and raise awareness. The areas covered included Darla Bazaar, BPPL, the police gate, RNR, and Darla Lhakhang.

The public had been invited to participate through the teachers-parents meeting. Additionally, the health committee sent letters to the Bazaar Tshogpa, BPPL, and the Darla Gup. However, apart from a few shopkeepers offering refreshments and a handful of people from the bazaar, no members of the public came forward to clean that day. Our main goal was to raise public awareness, and we believe we succeeded by going out and singing our theme loudly. The low public turnout did not discourage us, as our large number of students more than made up for it.

Not only did we clean well, but we also had a lot of fun. The campaign was a success—we collected nearly 50 sacks of waste. When we gathered back at the school, a bottle of litchi juice was given to everyone to quench their thirst after the scorching heat of the day. Below are some photos from the event.

World Health Day 2016 in Darla School: Step Up: Beat Diabetics

Beat Diabetes

Darla School celebrated World Health Day with a variety of health- and hygiene-related activities. In the morning, health club members delivered a speech for the day, and a healthy song was played over the speakers. In the afternoon, we invited health staff from Darla to give a talk. Three staff members came and covered a wide range of health and hygiene issues and care. Teachers and students from Classes VI to X gathered in the Multipurpose Hall (MPH) for the talk. Meanwhile, two health teachers gave a basic health talk to students of Classes PP to V on the assembly ground. Students also cleaned toilets, the water tank, and water sources. The photos below tell the story of the day.

Speech Delivered on World Health Day

“Today, 7th April, is World Health Day. It is celebrated every year on the founding day of the World Health Organization. Established in 1950, this event has a theme each year to draw attention to a current world health issue. On this day, we remind ourselves to take extra steps to care for our health, spread the news about health and threats, and inform others about important global health issues.

This year, WHO is focusing World Health Day on beating diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious, chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. In 2008, an estimated 347 million people worldwide had diabetes, and the prevalence is growing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

In 2012, the disease was the direct cause of some 1.5 million deaths, with more than 80% of those occurring in low- and middle-income countries. WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death by 2030.

There are two main forms of diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes typically make none of their own insulin and therefore require insulin injections to survive. People with type 2 diabetes—the form that comprises some 90% of cases—usually produce their own insulin but not enough, or they are unable to use it properly. People with type 2 diabetes are typically overweight and sedentary, two conditions that raise a person’s insulin needs.

Over time, high blood sugar can seriously compromise every major organ system in the body, causing heart attacks, strokes, nerve damage, kidney failure, blindness, impotence, and infections that can lead to amputations. It was observed that 2.5% of the population (2.8% of males and 2.1% of females) were known diabetics in Bhutan.

A large proportion of diabetes cases are preventable. Simple lifestyle measures have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. Maintaining a normal body weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and eating a healthy diet can reduce the risk of diabetes.

The main goals of the World Health Day 2016 campaign are to:

· Increase awareness about the rise in diabetes, and its staggering burden and consequences, particularly in low- and middle-income countries;

· Trigger a set of specific, effective, and affordable actions to tackle diabetes—including steps to prevent diabetes and to diagnose, treat, and care for people with diabetes; and

· Launch the first Global Report on Diabetes, which will describe the burden and consequences of diabetes and advocate for stronger health systems to ensure improved surveillance, enhanced prevention, and more effective management of diabetes.”

Giving speech

Listening passionatel

Health talks by Darla BHU staff

And it begins

Wide coverage of topics

How to? and What to?

What is H1N1 and others...?

Demonstrating practically

MHM and care

Our health board with various messages

Students cleaned the water tank

Alcohol and Drinking in Bhutan

A group drinks to celebrate Rimdro together

The Scourge of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol is one of the most widely used—and most misused—drugs known to humanity. It is not merely a personal failing but a deep social issue. The habit of drinking has wrapped its arms around our society and is slowly strangling it. Its effects on health, career, and family life are disastrous.

One reason alcohol is so commonly misused is that society accepts it. People drink to be sociable. Many restaurants and shops offer alcohol on their menus. Alcohol is routinely included in celebrations, family gatherings, and social events. For example, we cannot seem to do away with alcohol even during Rimdros (religious rituals).

Drinking often begins at an early age, initially for fun or out of a sense of fashion. Parents usually model the behavior. Children copy their parents and elders, secretly trying drinks. Gradually, casual drinkers become chain drinkers. It becomes a habit that dies hard. The drinker comes to believe that alcohol is necessary for him. He argues that drinking eases his tension and helps him concentrate on serious problems. This mistaken belief costs him both money and health. Drinking, they say, causes cancer. It is injurious to health. Yet the hardened drinker listens to no advice or warning. He could give up this evil if he built up his willpower, but instead he takes offense when advised.

Health Risks

One major risk of alcohol abuse is serious health problems. The leading cause of death among heavy drinkers is cirrhosis of the liver. Alcohol also damages the brain, heart, kidneys, and digestive system. Cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and stomach becomes a real threat as well. The well-known South Indian actor Kalabhavan Mani recently died from alcohol. Mani was only 45 years old and knew he had liver cirrhosis. Yet instead of making it his priority not to drink, he forced himself to drink. He was not a child who could be forced to do something against his will.

Moderation vs. Excess

Lately, scientists have been saying that a small amount of alcohol with dinner is not only acceptable but may even be good for you. This is true only in moderation. They say a small amount of alcohol can help you sleep. Drinking a moderate amount daily may benefit your health in the long run. A moderate amount is considered to be one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. This can raise your HDL ("good cholesterol") levels, which helps protect your heart against disease and heart attacks. Moderate daily alcohol can also lower your risk of developing diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity.

However, if you take advantage of that license and drink in excess, the effects on health are severe. Alcohol calms you down but also slows down vital organs. It has serious short-term effects. If you become addicted or drink heavily over a long period, you may shorten your lifespan by about 12 years and suffer many serious side effects.

Workplace and Career Damage

Alcoholism takes a heavy toll in the workplace and can destroy careers. The "hangovers" lead to sleeping late and waking up late. Once at work, such individuals only hang back. Projects stall as they malinger.

Harm to Family and Society

As a result of alcohol abuse, children and other family members are often mistreated. Alcoholics cause spousal abuse and, in some cases, even death. Many women at RENEW (Respect, Educate, Nurture, and Empower Women) have been badly beaten by their husbands. Families are destroyed, and children are left to live lives full of suffering. Alcohol totally consumes the abuser—all their thoughts and actions somehow become associated with the drug. Personal relationships are torn apart. The consequences of alcohol misuse are serious not only for the self but also for family, friends, and especially children. Many rapes in Bhutan are related to alcoholism.

Accessibility and Cultural Attitudes

Alcohol is accessible nearly everywhere. This easy access is a key reason why alcohol abuse and alcoholism are such common problems in Bhutan. Alcohol abuse means drinking more alcohol than is socially, psychologically, or physically healthy. In Bhutan, alcoholism is tragically associated with a kind of "manhood." Our passion for spurious liquor aligns us with those third-rate characters shown in movies and roaming the streets—people who pride themselves on consuming such so-called liquor. We admire our lives and enjoy our drinks. But it would be a foolish death indeed to die from alcohol.

The Best Dance of Teachers, Darla MSS 2015

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