Ten Steps to Good Health

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The HOPE Initiative is a philanthropic non-profit organization with the mission of creating awareness on health issues amongst school students, and through them, to members of the community. The organization was conceived in 2004, with support from WHO India, and soon emerged as a pioneer in school health promotion in the country. The HOPE Initiative (Health Oriented Programmes and Education, www.hope.org.in) has touched the lives of over three million students and their families from 6000 schools, either directly by conducting programmes about various aspects of health, or by training and equipping teachers to become 'health promoters' in their institutions.

The HOPE Initiative has focused on 10 topics that it considers essential namely, Sanitation and Cleanliness, Hepatitis B, Healthy Life Style, Diseases borne by Mosquitoes, Global Warming, Stress and Examination Challenge, Tobacco and Alcohol Abuse, Ragging and Bullying, Prevention of Road Traffic Accidents and Safe and Healthy Ways of Celebrating Festivals. These topics have been introduced through innovative and modern techniques like documentary films, games, quizzes, debates, posters and essay competitions and rallies. The 'Ten Steps to Good Health' provides key components of the 10 topics.

In order to build a healthy nation, it is essential that students, who are the future citizens, are introduced to the concept of good health early in their lives. Medical scientists estimate that three quarters of the diseases that occur in our life-time are either preventable, or can be postponed with appropriate knowledge, positive attitudes and proper habits.

Health is not just a boring list of Do's and Don'ts. An intelligent student would like to ask WHY and HOW at every turn.

This simple start-up book attempts to provide basic scientific knowledge on 10 common health issues that each one of us needs to go through life. How should we protect ourselves from energy sapping diarrhoea, mosquito borne diseases or road traffic accidents? How should we watch our weight and eat healthy, so that we may postpone or prevent diabetes or heart disease when we grow up? What kind of water do we drink and how do we store it? Do we wash hands in a proper manner before eating and after defecation? Why are urban children becoming obese? What is hepatitis - how does it spread and how can we protect ourselves? Why is it necessary to wear a helmet when on two-wheelers? How does one avert stress while facing examinations? Why are tobacco and alcohol harmful? How can we enjoy and maximize joy during festivals by following a few simple precautions?

This book has tried to provide answers to some such questions.

Unlike several developed countries, health is not a subject that is taught systematically in Indian schools. This book is an attempt to introduce a small but vital dose of health awareness to make education more comprehensive and wholesome. And we have tried to present it in an attractive manner.

I hope it will be liked by students, as well as by teachers and parents, who can help in ushering a healthier new generation.

**Contents and Sample Pages**