Awards ceremony for primary and secondary schools in Maputo
The “Healthy School” competition took place on April 19, in the atrium of the Maputo Municipal Council, within the framework of the project “Social Determinants of Health: the best strategy against COVID-19 in Maputo”, financed by the Municipality of Barcelona.
Social Determinants of Health
Health promotion cannot be exclusive to the health sector, but to all of us.
The project “The Social Determinants of Health: the best strategy against COVID-19 in Maputo”, financed by the Municipality of Barcelona, lasted 2 years and 4 months and was implemented by medicusmundi, in collaboration with the Municipal Council of Maputo and the Institute of Social Communication of Southern Africa (MISA-Mozambique).
As part of this project, the “Healthy School” competition was held, during which 11 schools (3 secondary schools and 8 primary schools) in the city of Maputo were evaluated. Of these 11 competing schools, 3 obtained the highest classification, having received a merit award. They were the “3 de Fevereiro” Primary School, the Laulane Primary School and the Gauchene Primary School. The secondary schools of Llhangene and the schools of the Santo António Community also received awards as “Health Promoting Schools”.
The opening ceremony of the event featured the presentation of a play by students from the “3 de Fevereiro” Primary School about the importance of preserving the environment. The work sought, above all, to raise awareness about hygiene at school, in the community and at home, as a way to prevent the spread of diseases.
In the first intervention after the work, the Country Director of medicusmundi, Violeta Bila, highlighted the importance of developing this type of projects in the country, strengthening the health system, with an integrated perspective and vision of health and its determinants. through activism and political advocacy actions, in collaboration with civil society platforms and social movements.
Then, the Municipal Health Service technician, Dulce Júlio, called for creating conditions for a healthy environment: “Health is physical and emotional well-being, and not just the absence of disease. However, health may be at risk due to lack of water and sanitation in the environment.” And he added: “To guarantee quality of life, it is necessary to develop protection actions within schools, but also within the community and society in general. Health promotion cannot be exclusive to the health sector, but to all of us.”
For her part, the councillor responsible for Health and Quality of Life of the Maputo Municipal Council, Alice de Abreu, highlighted the inclusive nature of the initiatives promoted by this project, giving the example of this school competition, which sought to stimulate and guarantee active participation of each actor involved. In this case, from the students themselves, parents and guardians, teachers, childcare providers, civil society, municipal agents, among other actors.
After the speeches, the Health Committee present, composed only of women, enlivened the event with native songs and dances, as a way to close the program activities. And finally, the most anticipated event by all those present took place, which was the presentation of awards to the competing schools. This event was led by the Councilor for Health and Quality and Life, Alice de Abreu, together with the Country Director of medicusmundi, Violeta Bila. The event ended with the usual group photos.
Strategies
