Gangdong-gu Takes Care of Student Health Through Untact (Contactless) Methods

148 Types of Indoor Physical Activity Video Content for 6 Elementary Schools... Support for Online Nutrition Education and More

Health Governance Video Conference

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) is taking steps to care for students' health using 'untact (non-face-to-face)' methods amid concerns over reduced physical activity and worsening health issues such as depression and obesity among children and adolescents due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The district has been supporting the prevention of childhood obesity through its specialized project, "Moving Classroom, Healthy School," which operates physical activity promotion programs, nutrition education, and health governance.

This year, to proactively respond to the environment changed by COVID-19, child health promotion programs that were previously provided in face-to-face and group formats will be converted to non-face-to-face formats.

First, 148 types of indoor physical activity video content will be provided to six elementary schools. During physical education classes, students can use the 'e-Hakseupteo' platform to watch various content such as basic movements, games, sports, COVID-19 prevention exercises, and health promotion activities, and participate in physical activity programs. Since the content is also available on the YouTube channel, elementary students, who attend school once or twice a week and spend more time indoors during the COVID-19 era, are expected to easily follow along at home and increase their activity levels.

Nutrition education aimed at forming healthy eating habits will also be conducted online. Customized videos by grade level covering proper eating habits, maintaining a healthy weight, and nutrition labeling will be produced and provided within this month. To engage students and evoke empathy, both adults and peer children will appear together in the lecture videos.

Online video conferencing has been introduced for the operation of 'health governance,' which involves multi-sector collaboration. The governance includes the Childhood Obesity Prevention Committee composed of participating school principals, teachers, and private experts, as well as the Gangdong-gu Office task force (TF) team. They plan to regularly discuss and collaborate on health management measures for students during the COVID-19 era.

Additionally, to support the health of vulnerable children, video educational materials and physical activity kits consisting of balls, bands, jump ropes, and other items will be provided. Approximately 200 children using after-school care facilities such as community child centers and Kiwoom centers are the target beneficiaries.

Alongside this, Gangdong-gu is also providing self-produced dietary education videos to all care facilities. By repeatedly watching these videos, students and their families are supported to lead healthy lifestyles together.

A representative from a community child center expressed positive feedback, saying, "Children who watched the videos ate more balanced and delicious meals than usual, and a child with severe picky eating promised to improve their eating habits."

Furthermore, the district plans to create a non-face-to-face communication channel with parents through the Naver Band (Geon.Gang.A. Class) to support balanced eating habits by providing child nutrition counseling and health information.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, "We cannot neglect the health management of children and adolescents due to COVID-19. In this untact era, we will discover and provide non-face-to-face programs that allow various physical activities beyond the space called 'school,' and work with various sectors in the community to support the healthy growth of future dream trees."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.