Ministry of Health launches children's academies against obesity and digital addiction

Public Health Director General Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Emin Demirkol spoke to an Anadolu Agency (AA) reporter about the academy programs planned to be implemented in the near future.

Demirkol stated that they are carrying out activities to protect the health of citizens within the scope of the Healthy Turkey Century Program, which is carried out with the "protective, developing and productive health" model, and that they provide free health services in 81 provinces with psychologists, dietitians, child development specialists, social workers and physiotherapists in nearly 350 Healthy Life Centers in Türkiye.

Demirkol, stating that they are trying to place Healthy Life Centers at the center of life, said, "We are continuing our activities at Healthy Life Centers with a new academy project."

Demirkol reminded that Healthy Life Academies were opened at Healthy Life Centers, the first lecture of which was given by Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu, and said that 120,000 people have graduated from the academies so far.

Demirkol, pointing out that the work carried out at the Healthy Life Academy has contributed greatly to increasing health literacy, said, "Our citizens who attend these academies receive very important training, from rational drug use and the reasons why cancer screenings are necessary to the duties of our family physicians and healthy life centers, which will allow them to share what they learn with their community."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demirkol continued his words as follows:

We're launching a new program at the Healthy Life Academies. This program covers children aged 0-18. In this context, we're launching these academies under three different headings: the first is for babies, the second is for children, and the third is for young people. We've launched our baby academies in all 81 provinces. They received their first lessons this week.

Demirkol explained that not only parents of babies aged 0-2, but also grandparents, are welcome to participate in the academy programs, saying, "We provide support through these academies with our healthcare professionals. We cover topics like how to raise a healthy baby? The importance of breast milk and immunizations, and how we can better care for our babies aged 0-2. How do mothers and fathers support each other while raising a baby? We want to teach all our families how to raise our babies correctly, including sibling rivalry."

Demirkol stated that baby academies have begun operating throughout Türkiye this week, saying, "Our baby academies are now operational in our provincial and district health directorates in all 81 provinces. Very soon, we will launch our children's academies, which will provide education for children ages 2-12 on a variety of topics, including schoolwork, healthy communication at home, digital addiction, and obesity. These academies will be an educational model that will be accessible to both children and their parents."

Demirkol stated that the youth academy program, which caters to children between the ages of 12 and 18, will be a model that will contribute to both the academic and social lives of children, especially those in adolescence. He said, "Every family here knows how challenging these times can be. Supporting our children at this age, establishing proper communication with them, and addressing their problems by combining the love of their parents with professional support will be a crucial step in building a healthy family."

Demirkol noted the following:

The healthier our children are, the stronger our Turkey will be. The more powerfully we will progress towards the Century of a Healthy Turkey. With our baby, child, and youth academies, we want our children to grow up healthy and grow up healthy. With a strong family structure, we want to protect them from many of the problems we fear are becoming prevalent in our society. With the support of their parents, we want them to develop into healthy individuals with a healthy family structure and prepare our children for the Century of a Healthy Turkey. We contribute to the development of healthy individuals.