Mass Cleaning Campaign

Out of many health activities in the school, mass cleaning campaign is one of the important activities in the school. On 28^th April, Darla school conducted a mass cleaning campaign. We called off the afternoon class, and students and teachers gathered in the assembly ground. The campaign begun with area distribution from classes IV to V. And the theme of the campaign was made loud and clear to the students. The theme was, “Clean Darla, Clean Bhutan. Clean Bhutan, Clean Earth.” The students and teachers went to the last point of the area singing the theme and requesting parents to come out and clean. The health club members also had various massages written and pasted on their back and front part of the body.

The mass cleaning campaign covered the town and villages of Darla. Many classes of students and teachers went as far as three kilometers from the school to clean and create awareness. We covered Darla bazaar, BPPL, Police gate, RNR, and Darla Lhakhang.

The presence of the public in the cleaning campaign was requested in the teachers-parents meeting, and for that, the health committee also sent letters to bazaar thsogpa, BPPL,and the Darla Gup. Except for a few shopkeepers for a few refreshments, a few people from Bazaar, no public came forward to clean on that day. Our main aim was to create awareness among the public. But we feel that we have created while we went out singing our theme loud. The presence of few public didn’t deter as we have huge numbers of students. Not only did our cleaning well but also have lots of funs. The cleaning campaign was a successful one as we collected almost 50 sacks of waste.  When we gather back in the school, a bottle of litchi juice was given to quench thirst from the scorching heat of the day. Below are some photos of the day.

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

Beat Diabetes

Darla school celebrated World Health Day. The day was marked with many health and hygiene-related activities. In the morning, we had the day’s speech by the health club members, and there the music was played about a healthy song. In the afternoon, the health staff of Darla was requested to give a talk, and upon our request, three staff came and gave wide coverage of health and hygiene issues and care. Teachers and Students from classes VI to 10 gathered in the MPH for the talk. Two health teachers gave a basic health talk to the students of class pp to V in the assembly ground. They also cleaned toilets, water tank,s and water sources. The photos below tell the story of the whole thing.

Giving speech

This was the speech delivered on that day. “Today, 7^th of 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 some extra steps to care for your health, spread the news of health and threats, and inform the important issues of global health.

This year, WHO is focusing the World Health Day, on beat diabetics.

Listening passionately

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 in the world 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 2 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 produces their own insulin, but not enough or they are unable to use it properly. People with type 2 diabetes are typically overweight and sedentary, 2 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 (Male: 2.8%, Females: 2.1%) 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 will be to:

• Increase awareness about the rise in diabetes, and its staggering burden and consequences, in particular in low-and middle-income countries;
• Trigger a set of specific, effective, and affordable actions to tackle diabetes. These will include steps to prevent diabetes and 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.”

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

Alcohol is one of the most used and a misused drugs known to man. It is a social issue. The habit of drinking had wrapped its arms around our society and is slowly strangling society. It has disastrous effects on health, career and one’s family life.

One reason why alcohol is misused is that it is accepted in society. People drink to be sociable. Many restaurants and shops offer alcohol on their menus. Alcohol is usually included in celebrations or family and social gatherings. For example, we cannot do away with alcohol items during Rimdros.

Drinking is picked up at an early age just for the sake of fun or fashion. It is usually shown by parents. Children copy their parents, elders and try the drinks secretly. By and by the casual drinkers become chain drinkers. It becomes a habit that dies hard. The drinker thinks that it has become necessary for him. He argues that drinking eases his tension and helps him concentrate his mind on problems of serious nature. His mistaken belief costs him money as well as health. Drinking, they say, causes cancer. It is injurious to health. But the hardened drinker listens to no advice or warning. He can give up this evil provided he builds up his willpower. He takes offense if you advise him.

One of the risks of alcohol abuse is health problems. The leading cause of death is cirrhosis of the liver.  Not only that alcohol also causes damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, and digestive system. Cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and stomach becomes a threat as well. The well known south Indian actor Kalabhavan Mani dies from alcohol recently. Mani was 45 years old, and he knew he has liver cirrhosis. Instead of making it his priority not to consume alcohol, he forces himself to drink. He was not a child to be forced to do something he does not want to do.

Lately, scientists have been saying that a little bit of alcohol with dinner is not only okay but it is also good for you. This is true in moderation.  They say that if you drink a small amount of alcohol it will help you sleep. Also if you drink a moderate amount every day it can help your health in the long run. A moderate amount is considered to be 1 drink for women daily and 2 drinks for men daily. This can help bring your HDL level up, which helps protect your heart against disease that causes heart attacks. Also a moderate amount of alcohol every day can lower your risk of developing diabetes by increasing your insulin sensitivity. It can also raise ‘good cholesterol’ levels.

If you take advantage of that and drink in excess there are effects on the health. It calms you down and slows down some organs in your body. Alcohol, therefore, has short-term effects on your body. If you are addicted to alcohol or drink a lot of alcohol for a long period of time you will shorten your life span by about 12 years, and get a lot of serious side effects. 

Alcoholism can definitely take a toll and causes them in their workplace, and even lose their career. The ‘hangovers’ sleep late and wake up late, and once they are in their workplace, they only hang back. The works are stalled as they malingered.

As a result of alcohol abuse, children and other family members are being mistreated. Alcoholics are causing spousal abuse, and in some cases, even death. There are many women in RENEW, who are badly beaten by their husbands. Families are being destroyed and children are living a life full of suffering. Alcohol totally consumes them; all their thoughts and actions are somehow associated with the drug. Personal relationships can be torn apart. The consequences of alcohol misuse are serious in many cases; it has an effect on self, towards their family and friends, and children maltreatment. Many rapes in Bhutan are related to alcoholism.

Alcohol is the most accessible in all places. Easy access to alcohol is a key reason why alcohol abuse and alcoholism are such a common problems in Bhutan. Alcohol abuse means drinking more alcohol than is socially, psychologically, or physically healthy. In Bhutan, alcoholism is associated with a kind of "manhood. We have passion for spurious liquor is in line with all those 3rd rate characters who are shown in the movies and roam in the street; who pride themselves at consuming such so-called liquor and going around. We admire our life, and enjoyed drinks. But it would be a foolish death to die from alcohol.