Ministry of Health launches 'We Will Change' campaign to enhance health awareness and build positive behaviors in the school community

Cairo – Nadeh Imam: The Ministry of Health and Population announced the launch of the “We Will Change” Health-Enhancing Schools campaign as part of an integrated plan to strengthen school health for the 2026/2027 academic year. The initiative focuses on raising health awareness and changing harmful behaviors among students, parents, and teachers.

Dr. Hussam Abdel-Ghaffar, the ministry’s official spokesperson, explained that the campaign aligns with the strategic pillars of the primary healthcare sector, representing a direct investment in the health of future generations and a key supporter of prevention, early detection, and the construction of a comprehensive community health system. He emphasized the need to unify health messages within educational institutions and enhance the capacity of school health teams and educational leaders to ensure that information is delivered in a simplified and effective manner.

For her part, Deputy Minister of Health and Population Dr. Abela Al-Alfi noted that investing in the health of children and youth begins with building their health awareness. She clarified that the campaign targets approximately 7 million students, along with their parents and the broader school community, during the first semester. It focuses on mechanisms for behavior change and raising awareness about the fundamentals of proper nutrition, adopting a healthy lifestyle, engaging in physical activity, and preventing harmful behaviors such as smoking, violence, bullying, and the irresponsible use of technology, all tailored to students’ needs and age groups.

On his part, Dr. Samir Wahid Al-Damiri, Head of the Primary Healthcare and Family Development Sector, stated that the plan includes comprehensive periodic medical examinations for approximately 5.5 million students across 21 governorates. These examinations will be conducted by nearly 4,500 trained medical screening teams in around 38,800 educational facilities. The plan also involves training school health teams and educational staff in first aid and emergency response, as well as implementing global standards for health-enhancing schools to support the provision of a safe and healthy school environment.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rasha Abou Zaid, Director General of the General Administration of School and Youth Health, said the plan includes health and interactive activities aimed at transforming awareness messages into daily practices. During the summer vacation, a 60-day health initiative was implemented, involving 1,492 students and 1,265 parents. The program covered topics such as proper nutrition, healthy lifestyles, physical activity, and prevention of smoking, addiction, violence, and bullying.