SRINAGAR: Emphasising the need to integrate health education with formal schooling to strengthen human development in Jammu and Kashmir, Tarang Health Alliance and the SKUAST-K Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Centre have joined hands to promote structured school-based health education in the region.
Speaking during a webinar organised by Tarang Health Alliance in collaboration with Fijeeha and ACTION (Alliance for Change, Transformation & Innovation), Dr Rahul Mehra, Chairman Tarang Health Alliance, stressed that education and health must move together to unlock long-term human potential.
“Education cannot deliver its full promise if children come to classrooms carrying the burden of poor health from early childhood,” Dr Mehra said. “Health education in schools lays the foundation for better learning outcomes, stronger resilience and more productive lives.”
Highlighting regional health challenges, Dr Mehra noted that nearly two-thirds of women aged 15–49 years in Jammu and Kashmir are anaemic, a condition that significantly impacts maternal and child health.
Referring to national programmes such as Anaemia Mukt Bharat and Mission Poshan 2.0, Dr Mehra acknowledged their importance but stressed the need for complementary health literacy initiatives. “Medical and nutrition interventions are essential, but without sustained health education and daily practice, their impact remains limited. Schools are the most effective platforms for behavioural change,” he said.
Dr Mehra also flagged emerging lifestyle-related risks. He said over 50 per cent of children aged 5–9 years in Jammu and Kashmir show elevated triglyceride levels, indicating early susceptibility to obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. He underlines the urgency of introducing education on nutrition, physical activity and healthy routines from a young age.
Advocating mandatory health education in schools, Dr Mehra called for a holistic curriculum covering physical health, mental well-being and social health. He emphasised the role of teachers and parents in reinforcing healthy behaviours beyond the classroom.
For Jammu and Kashmir, integrating health education into school curricula represents a strategic investment in human development, linking health, education and economic resilience, and laying the foundation for a healthier and more productive future generation.
